Moray mums may have to supply own nappies as NHS Grampian seeks ways to cut £65m deficit
Pregnant mothers could be asked to bring their own nappies for their newborns as NHS Grampian plans to stop handing them out to save cash.
That is just one of many measures the cash-strapped health board has unveiled as it aims to save £23 million over the next year.
A financial recovery plan with 79 proposed savings was submitted to the Scottish Government last month which would reduce its deficit to £45 million.
However 12 of these, which total £7 million, needed further assessments before they could proceed.
But now that has been done, the NHS Grampian Board will meet again later this week and will be asked to back the overall proposal.
NHS Grampian reported an overspend of £65.1 million – the highest of its kind when compared to other Scottish health boards.
At the end of March, the Scottish Government suggested that the maximum level of overspend allowed by the board is £45m.
This meant that a financial recovery plan was needed to plug the gap.
The Scottish Government has already loaned the crisis-hit health board more than £67 million to tackle its overspend.
How did NHS Grampian come to have this cash trouble?
The regional health board has a total budget of £1530 million, but 40% of this is delegated to Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray health and social care boards.
This sum has to pay for everything from wages for its 17,000 staff to costs for medicine and power.
Its buildings across the region all require work that is increasing in price thanks to rising inflation.
And, it should be noted that people are living longer and face various health issues that can come with that.
What are the proposed savings that will need approval?
The health board is looking to cut down its return outpatient waiting lists by 30% by stopping any “unnecessary” appointments.
This means that patients who have previously had tests carried out would get their results by phone or letter.
But appointments would still be given to those receiving a cancer diagnosis or being told they need an examination.
The health board argues this move would benefit patients as they wouldn’t have to spend money travelling to hospital.
However, there is a fear that it could lead to missed diagnoses leading to harm and potential complaints from those who prefer face-to-face meetings.
Another saving on the table would see a range of medical services halted over public holidays.
This includes elective care procedures such as non-emergency surgeries, diagnostic tests and cancer treatments.
Doing this would reduce the amount of unsociable hours payments to staff, but it would directly impact patients including those on the urgent suspected cancer pathway.
Proposals have also been put forward to reduce pathology and non-critical radiology services such as X-rays, ultrasounds and CT scans.
Cancer day services could be cut back over the holidays too.
Meanwhile, pharmacy services would be reduced to cut back on holiday staff payments.
This would mean that less routine medicine orders would be processed to allow staff to focus on urgent and emergency supplies and orders.
Finally, non-emergency paediatric activities would be stopped.
Doing this would impact on younger patients waiting for both outpatient and inpatient appointments.
The health board is aware that the changes could lead to delays and create a backlog, but argued it would benefit staff by ensuring they can get some much needed time off.
Another proposal would see NHS Grampian stop providing disposable nappies for newborn babies.
This would affect Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Dr Gray’s, Inverurie Community Maternity Unit and Peterhead Community Maternity Unit.
It would mean expectant mums would have to bring their own supply of nappies with them as they prepare to give birth.
However, babies that are admitted to the neo-natal unit would still be given special-sized nappies.
The health board noted that a reusable nappies voucher is sent out as part of the Scottish Government’s baby box given to pregnant women across the country.
Meanwhile, the intramuscular medication depot clinic will be looked at, with an aim to cut back on staff and introduce a new way to monitor jabs.
NHS Grampian is also proposing to lower its spiritual care by reducing its hospital chaplains and on-call provision.
