Over the past week, the Chief Executive visited various areas with the Chair of the Board and several Board members.
Together, they have been consistently impressed by the innovative approaches staff are taking to improve care for our patients.
Firebreak is a critical time, focusing on making sustainable changes that will strengthen our position heading into the winter months.
A key part of this effort is reducing hospital occupancy, to ensure a better quality of care for our patients and an improved experience for all of us working within the system.
Professor Jann Gardner, NHS Lanarkshire Chief Executive, said: “Thank you for your continued dedication and hard work during this important period. Please keep up the fantastic efforts – your contribution is truly making a difference.”
Below is a list of the senior leaders who participated and the areas they visited this week:
- Michael Breen, Director of Finance and Deputy Chief Executive
- Calvin Brown, Director of Communications
- Russell Coulthard, Director of Acute Services
- Phil Couser, Non-Executive Director
- Dr Chris Deighan, Executive Medical Director
- Eddie Docherty, Executive Nurse Director
- Professor Jann Gardner, Chief Executive
- Martin Hill, Board Chair
- Jacqui Jones, Director of HR
- Colin Lauder, Director of Planning, Property and Performance and Deputy Chief Executive
- Colin Lee, Non-Executive Director
- Maureen Lees, Non-Executive Director
- Councillor Eileen Logan, Non-Executive Director
- Trudi Marshall, Interface Director
- Lesley McDonald, Non-Executive Director
- Professor Ross McGuffie, Chief Officer, University Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire
- Brian Moore, Non-Executive Director
- Stephen Peebles, Deputy Director of Acute Services
- Professor S Josephine Pravinkumar, Director of Public Health and Health Policy
- Sylvia Stewart, Non-Executive Director and Employee Director
- Siobhan Whyte, Non-Executive Director
- Donald Wilson, Director of Digital Services
Kirklands HQ
- FNC + Plus
University Hospital Hairmyres
- Ambulatory Care
- Frailty Unit
- Minor Injury Unit
University Hospital Monklands
- Command Centre
- Medical Assessment Unit
- Minor Injury Unit
- Safety Huddle
- Ward 17 (Saturday) – respiratory medicine; discharge planning, criteria led discharge pilot
University Hospital Wishaw
- Minors
- Orthopaedic/Trauma Assessment Unit
- Safety Huddle
- Surgical/Surgical Ambulatory Care Unit
Thank you to those who took part and to those who made the visits possible.
Firebreak background
The Firebreak initiative focuses on improving safety, quality of care, and staff wellbeing. This vital programme will help create lasting, positive change for everyone across NHS Lanarkshire.
During the Firebreak, we aim to:
- Lower occupancy rates in our hospitals
- Fewer patients boarding in non-appropriate areas
- Improved patient experiences and outcomes
- Create a more satisfying work environment for our staff.
A new FAQ document has been published with all you need to know about Firebreak ’24: Sustainable Change, Safer Care. Click here to find out more about what Firebreak will achieve, how you can play your part and the sustainable change that teams are working together to deliver.
Feedback and Engagement
We highly value your feedback and encourage you to actively participate in shaping Firebreak ’24:
- Feedback Channels: Please use our dedicated email address operationFLOW@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk to share your thoughts, suggestions and questions
- Stay Engaged: Discuss in your teams and stay updated through our weekly internal communications.
- Find Out More: Visit our webpages to find out more about Operation FLOW: www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/OperationFLOW/
Interface Firebreak Frequently Asked Questions
You can learn more about the Flow Navigation Centre Plus (FNC+Plus) – and the broader work of the Interface Directorate – in our FAQ where Trudi Marshall, NHS Lanarkshire’s Interface Director, provides clear answers to key questions.
Together, we are not just addressing the challenges of today but building more resilient services for the future. Your dedication and commitment to this important initiative is crucial to the improvement of our system.
#TeamLanarkshire
