18. NHS
a) NHS Fife:NHS Fife has used Carer Information Strategy funding to run training sessions for carers caring for people who have had a stroke, have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) and who care for people with autism. The Board funded respite and transport costs to reduce barriers to attendance.
The Board has also taken forward a Fife-wide inter-agency project providing manual handling training to carers in their own home.
b) NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Hospital Patient Information Centres: As a result of a feasibility study, the new Stobhill and Victoria hospitals have developed Patient Information Centres (PiCs). These drop-in services provide information and support to hospital users. Information is available in a variety of formats including literature and supported internet access for individuals to research their health needs. All information is approved by specialist staff in consultation with topic/disease specialist to ensure relevance and accuracy. The centres also provide specific health improvement services, for example, financial inclusion and stop smoking services.
A working group was set up to review carers' feedback and to develop an action plan to meet the needs identified. As a result, a weekly carers' drop-in service within PICs was established by local carers' centres to proactively promote carer support services, offer practice support and information to unpaid carers, and to undertake carers' assessments. A money advice drop-in service for patients and carers was also established.
c) NHS Lothian e-Learning Carer Awareness Modules: These modules are to inform NHS Lothian staff and independent contractors of the principles of the Carer Information Strategy ( CIS). They will enable staff to learn these principles through a flexible, informative, and entertaining medium. Staff can access training at a time and place to suit them. There are two levels of training: a basic overview, and more in-depth.
All staff were issued with a bi-fold card through payroll advising them of the main strategic objectives of the CIS and giving contact details for third party organisations who could support carers. Summary documents were issued to NHS and partners.
E-learning is delivered using LearnPro software. All NHS Lothian employees have a training number to access training. Learners have to undertake mandatory updates on selected modules annually. New starts have to undertake certain modules as part of their core induction programme. Modules are supported and administered by NHS Lothian training department.
Decision about training content were taken in partnership with local authorities, CH(C)Ps, and third party organisations. Modules were delivered by third party carer organisation in partnership with NHS Lothian Training Department.