Health bosses are gearing up for “the most challenging winter ever”.
The coronavirus pandemic and staff shortages have put Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership under previously unseen levels of strain.
And chief officer Julie White this week urged the public to appreciate the huge challenge staff will be facing over the coming months.
The plea comes after the health board revealed elective surgery at Dumfries Infirmary will be scaled back for the next fortnight, although urgent and cancer operations will still go ahead.
Ms White said: “I have never seen health and social care systems in our region under so much pressure and unfortunately this level of pressure may continue for some time to come.
“We really want everyone to have an insight and understanding as to just how challenging things have become through a combination of factors fuelled further by the pandemic.
“Our responsibility is to the people of Dumfries and Galloway, and whilst the situation remains extremely challenging we are investing significantly in order to address the workforce challenges in particular to ensure that we are in the best position to meet people’s needs.”
Ms White pointed out that “difficult decisions” are currently being made, including putting two patients into rooms at DGRI which were originally designed for a single bed.
Capacity at cottage hospitals will be maximised, depending on staffing levels, while some patients may be put in alternative NHS and care facilities until home support is in place.
Ms White also called on people to treat staff with respect and asked anyone who has suggestions on how the needs of a loved one can be cared for to speak to their relative’s social worker.
She said: “It’s been an incredibly difficult 18 months for everyone, where we’ve all felt the impact of Covid-19 in just about every aspect of our lives.
“Right now, significant pressures are facing our health and social care partnership as we head into the most challenging winter period ever faced.
“For a number of years the health and social care partnership has faced the dual challenge of increasing demand against the backdrop of difficulties around recruitment to the workforce.
“The pandemic has only served to accelerate this problem. Many people have avoided seeking help because of Covid-19, have been confronted with delays, or have been isolating at home – becoming weaker or more frail.
“As has long been the case, recruitment to jobs within the area remains a challenge, but encouraging, innovative approaches are being driven forward which do provide hope for an improved situation going forward.
“However, right now we’re in a position where problems stored up during the pandemic are really biting.
“Staff across the whole of the health and social care system are incredibly stretched, and we’re desperately short on the care staff who can help support people in the environment that’s right for them.”
It is hoped that a Scottish Government announcement to increase pay for care at home staff will help, with plans being put in place for a major recruitment campaign.
However, in the short term there were there are still “real challenges” in providing such care.
Ms White added: “Anyone requiring help should not be deterred from coming forward, but to try and ensure they pursue the most appropriate means of help in the first instance from a range of options – be that a visit to their community pharmacist, visiting the NHS Inform website, contacting their GP practice, calling NHS 24 on 111 or dialling 999 in the case of an emergency.”
