Frontline medics thank those who have signed-up to Pick Me Up Project so far
Published: 26/11/2020 10:21Frontline NHS workers have thanked more than a dozen businesses and organisations who signed-up to a new project aimed at helping lifting pressure on the health service in the north-east – and encouraged more to follow their lead.
NHS Grampian's Pick Me Up Project launched on Monday and already businesses, including Aberdeen International Airport, Aberdeen Inspired, Aberdein Considine and Hampton, have pledged their support to the scheme.
The project will see them offer staff as much flexibility as possible to collect their loved-ones from hospital, when they are ready for discharge, rather than waiting until after their shift. In turn this will free-up beds to allow medics to treat more acutely ill patients.
Orthopaedic surgeon, David Lawrie said: “Getting people who are ready for discharge home and out of hospital would provide us with more bed space in the hospital, which in turn lifts pressure from the wards, the emergency department and the ambulances at the front door.
“It would mean we'd be able to get people into the beds and wards they need to be in, to get the specialist care they need. In turn, for example, that allows us to treat others more quickly in the emergency department. It goes beyond the front door however, it would let us treat inpatients in every area – be they cancer patients, neurology patients, urology patients, orthopaedic patients – by freeing up staff and beds.
“Ultimately getting people, who are well enough to be discharged, home more quickly can aid their recovery – it's been shown that people recuperate better at home, once they are well enough to be there.”
Lee Allen, consultant in critical care, added: “This isn't something we need due to Covid-19, going forward we need this to be how we operate, even once we are beyond the pandemic. If enough businesses and people support this project it allows us to be as efficient as possible as a health service, and for that to work we need local businesses and the public to help.
“We're absolutely delighted by the response to the project since its launch. It’s excellent to see the support from companies, that have come forward and pledged support not just to NHS workers, but our patients, the people of the north-east and, ultimately, their own staff. So a big 'thank you' to everyone that has signed-up. It really is heart-warming to know that level of support is there from local employers.”
Aberdeen International Airport, Aberdeen Inspired, Aberdein Considine and Hampton all said they had been inspired to support the project based on the clear positive impact it can have, if enough businesses join forces to support it.
A spokesman for Aberdeen International Airport said: “When we heard about the Pick Me Up Project it seemed like an excellent opportunity to support the region's health care workers and, at the same time, support our staff to be there for their loved-ones, at what can be a stressful time for them.”
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “Ultimately this comes down to supporting a public service that has been there for all of us, and our families, saving lives, for decades. We're glad to be able to help in a way that will have minimal impact for businesses but the cumulative effect for NHS Grampian, its employees, and its patients could be huge if enough organisations make a combined effort.”
Jacqueline Law, managing partner, Aberdein Considine, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for us to support NHS Grampian, as well as the welfare of our own staff. We hope by taking part, along with other companies, we can make a real impact to help frontline staff treat more patients and help get those who are well home more quickly, to help aid their recovery.
“Much of what the NHS and its staff does goes unseen and we can't forget that, if ever there was something worthy of all our support it is our National Health Service.”
A spokeswoman for Hampton said: “Taking part for us is a way to say 'thank 'you' to all the NHS workers during the pandemic and beyond.
“We'll also be promoting the project to our clients and encouraging them to sign-up, where it is appropriate to their businesses. The more of us that take part the bigger the difference we can make.
“We'd encourage any business or organisation, big or small, to seriously think about taking part – together we can all make a massive difference.”
For more information or to sign-up get in touch with gram.communications@nhs.scot using the subject line “Pick Me Up Project”.