FRIDAY, 27 DECEMBER, 2024

Photographs attached: PHOTO 1: Chief Executive Nicky Connor and Director of People and Culture Elaine Watson joined the Out of Hours Team to celebrate 20 years of the service

PHOTO 2: L-R Executive Nurse Director Simon Dunn, Out of Hours Clinical Lead Shawkat Hasan, Medical Director Dr James Cotton, Operational Medical Director for Primary Care Dr David Shaw, Clinical Lead, NHS Tayside Out of Hours Service Dr Nadine Cousins, Senior Nurse Out of Hours Catherine Carrie, Out of Hours Clinical Director Dr Debbie Murray

Celebrating 20 years of NHS Tayside’s Out of Hours service

NHS Tayside’s Out of Hours (OOH) service proudly marks its 20th anniversary, celebrating two decades of providing urgent and unscheduled primary care to over 417,000 residents across the region.

Since 2004, the OOH service has become an integral part of NHS Tayside, delivering high-quality care during evenings, weekends and public holidays.

The OOH service has evolved over recent years to meet increasing demand and emerging public health challenges. With innovative solutions and a multidisciplinary team, the service continues to ensure patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place. The team consists of GPs, advanced paramedic practitioners, healthcare support workers, and pharmacy technicians.

Senior clinicians also provide professional advice through the Flow Navigation Centre to colleagues in the Scottish Ambulance Service, NHS 24, the out-of-hours service and GPs so they can make the right decision about which service is appropriate for their patient. Through this collaborative professional-to-professional working, the team has strengthened the support between community and secondary care providers.

Chief Executive Nicky Connor, Medical Director James Cotton, Executive Nurse Director Simon Dunn and Director of People and Culture Elaine Watson recently visited the service to recognise the 20 year milestone.

Chief Executive Nicky Connor said, “I’d like to congratulate everyone in the Out of Hours Service for 20 years of continuous improvement. It has been brilliant to have the opportunity to spend time with the team and really understand the positive impact they have on our whole system.

“The service has recently transitioned to a new way of working to enhance resilience and meet the demand of the people of Tayside and it is great to recognise the hard work that has gone into this from the team.”

The OOH service plays a pivotal role in the future of healthcare by supporting GP trainees, ANPs, and medical and nursing students. This commitment to education ensures sustained excellence in patient care and adaptability to meet future demands.

NHS Tayside’s OOH service remains committed to exploring new ways to enhance care and maintain its vital role in the healthcare system.

NHS Tayside Clinical Director, Debbie Murray said, “We are proud to celebrate 20 years of dedicated service to our community and will continue to innovate and adapt to meet the needs of our patients.

“The Out of Hours team is compassionate and committed to delivering person-centred care and it is wonderful to recognise the work that has taken place over the last 20 years.”

Contact:

Abigail Reid

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740716