News and Events Archive
UHI and NHS partnership project wins Scottish award
Project looked at effective ways to liaise with rural communities over services
Left-to-right, Gaener Rodger, senior research fellow at the Centre for Rural health, Angela Constance, minister for skills and lifelong learning, Christina West of NHS Highland, and project researcher Amy Nimegeer.
A project which explored the most effective ways for communities in rural Scotland to get involved in planning their future health services has won a national award and attracted international interest.
The Remote Service Futures Project was a joint Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) initiative between the Centre for Rural Health, part of the new University of the Highlands and Islands, and NHS Highland, and looked at the challenges of providing services in remote and rural areas – including staff recruitment, and travelling times and costs for patients, families, carers and health professionals.
It involved events such as community workshops, forums and roadshows in communities in Argyll, Wester Ross and Lochaber to help people and service-providers liaise over local needs and future provision.
Now the completed two-year scheme has received one of two awards for the best Scottish partnership project in the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Scotland Awards, presented by Angela Constance, minister for skills and lifelong learning, at a ceremony in Dunblane. KTPs help organisations and businesses to develop by enabling them to tap into research and expertise.
The Remote Service Futures Project was among 14 shortlisted entries from around 120 KTP projects in Scotland. It will now go into the UK-wide awards to be announced in London in October.
It was headed by researcher and KTP associate Amy Nimegeer whose report is now informing the government, NHS and others on effective ways to liaise with people living in remote parts of the country.
The project has been the subject of public lectures and conferences, and contributed to professional development courses. Amy, who last year won a KTP seminar series best presentation prize for the project, said it had attracted international interest from academics and governments, while a "toolkit" of best practice ideas has been trialled in Australia.
She added: "The project has given local people and service-providers an appreciation of each other’s issues – such as needs, budgets and staff recruitment. I am delighted that it has been recognised with an award. Future services can only be effective if communities are given a say in the planning process and I believe our project has highlighted how difficult that can be in practice, but?the result has been?a set of?very practical?and even innovative methods to help the NHS and communities engage with each other."
Christina West, Argyll and Bute Community Health Partnership’s clinical services manager for mid-Argyll, said: "This is a real accolade for the NHS Highland and UHI Centre for Rural Health partnership, and the first time an NHS partnership has achieved this award – recognising that by?organisations working together we can identify new and innovative solutions."??
Neil Duncan, KTP adviser for North Scotland, commented: "This was a very successful partnership, and credit must be paid to the enthusiasm and professionalism of Amy Nimegeer, and all the UHI and NHS participants."
The Centre for Rural Health is a partnership between the University of the Highlands and Islands and the University of Aberdeen. It is based in Inverness and aims to advance knowledge of health and health services in rural and remote communities.
Neil Duncan, KTP adviser for North Scotland, commented: "This was a very successful partnership, and credit must be paid to the enthusiasm and professionalism of Amy Nimegeer, and all the UHI and NHS participants."
The Centre for Rural Health is a partnership between the University of the Highlands and Islands and the University of Aberdeen. It is based in Inverness and aims to advance knowledge of health and health services in rural and remote communities.
The Competitive Health Services project is now complete. Project publications 'Utilization of the eHIT-tool eHealth Implementation Toolkit' and 'A Roadmap to Transnational Exchange of eHealth Innovation' can be viewed here
CRH Professor David Godden wins Centre for Health Science award
The Centre for Health Science Company are delighted to announce Professor David Godden as the winner of their first ever Centre for Health Science Award. As Co-Director of the Centre for Rural Health and until recently Research and Development Director for NHS Highland, Professor Godden was recognised for the significant contribution he has made to the health science sector in the Highlands and Islands. Professor Godden received the coveted Centre for Health Science Award, specially designed by Glasstorm based in Tain, and £350 prize money.
The winner was announced at the Centre for Health Science Annual Lecture held on Thursday 18th November and was presented by Garry Coutts, Chair of NHS Highland and recently appointed Rector of the prospective University of the Highlands & Islands. Prior to presenting the award Garry Coutts delivered a compelling lecture providing a visionary perspective on the 'Future of Healthcare in the Highlands and Islands.' The event was chaired by Ken Proctor, Associate Medical Director. A personal address by video was made by Nicola Sturgeon, MSP, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing. Ms Sturgeon outlined the Government's continued commitment to the health sciences sector and emphasised collaboration as being key in moving the sector forward particularly in the current economic climate. Alex Paterson, Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, provided an overview of the life sciences sector in the region. The full lecture will soon be available to watch on the Centre for Health Science website.
The other shortlists that were in the running to receive the Centre for Health Science Award were Dr Jim Rennie, Dean for Postgraduate Dental Education, NHS Education for Scotland, Professor Ian Megson, Head of the Department of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Science and Director of the Free Radical Research Facility, UHI, and the UHI Department of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Science and Highland Clinical Research Facility.
The Centre for Health Science Annual Lecture and Award Ceremony took place at the Centre for Health Science on Thursday 18th November at 4pm.
-ends- Notes to editors: Photo taken by Ewen Weatherspoon. In photo (left to right): Garry Coutts, Professor David Godden, Professor Alasdair Munro (Chair of the Centre for Health Science Company)
The Centre for Health Science was officially completed in 2009 and is a state-of-the-art multi-user facility co-located with the region's largest hospital, Raigmore. The Centre is one of the first of its kind in the UK and is a focus for excellence in healthcare and biotechnology research, education, training and business development. The centre was established to bring together academia, commercial organisations and the public sector to enhance further growth of the health sciences sector in the region. The Centre for Health Science Award is the first of its kind in the Highlands and Islands to acknowledge contributions made to the health science sector in the region. The award has been designed to acknowledge an organisation, project or individual's contribution to the health science sector within the region and the assessment criteria demonstrates the key themes of the Centre for Health Science; collaborate, innovate, incubate and educate. Those shortlisted demonstrated the strongest evidence of innovation, collaboration, overall contribution to health science, engagement with the community and wider public, and potential for future development. The winner received the coveted Centre for Health Science Award, designed by Glasstorm based in Tain, and £350 prize money. The award was supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Life Sciences Scotland. Professor David Godden was instrumental in establishing and developing the Centre for Rural Health which employs 22 core staff and has attracted nearly £6m in funding and this year celebrated 10 years of leading the Rural Health Agenda. Professor Godden has built a track record in terms of grant income, publication and reputation. His research interests are in the epidemiology of diseases in rural areas and in the use of technology to support health care in rural communities. He retains a clinical commitment in respiratory medicine at Raigmore Hospital, is an author of two books, several book chapters and over 90 academic journal papers. For further information contact:
posy.macrae@cfhs.eu
Centre for Health Science Company
01463 255914
CRH Student receives British Science Association gold award
Rachel Earith, who spent five weeks working at the Centre for Rural Health during the summer has received a gold award from the British Science Association in recognition of the quality of her findings and her work as part of the Nuffield Science Bursary Programme. Rachel's project was titled "What is the nature of road traffic casualties in remote and rural UK?" - a topic which contributed to the University of Aberdeen dot.rural Managing Information in Medical Emergencies project.
Rachel adopted a mixed methods approach to explore road traffic casualty epidemiology. This included a literature review and a qualitative study exploring the real-world experience of health professionals.
She found that young males were most likely to be involved in car accidents and that the majority of crashes took place in the afternoon and evening. She also found that crashes were four times more likely on rural roads than urban roads.
Alasdair Mort, from the Centre for Rural Health, dot.rural team said "Rachel made a fantastic contribution to a very large and prestigious project. She was a pleasure to work with and gained a lot of valuable experience from her placement with us. We wish her the very best for sixth year, university and beyond"
CRH project success at NHS Highland 2010 Recognising Excellence Awards
Renal staff involved in the CRH Competitive Health project received an award certificate in the 'Better Value' category, for their work on the Teledialysis initiative between Raigmore and Caithness hospitals. Clinical and ehealth staff worked in both locations alongside the CRH project team to ensure the success of this new telehealth service.
from left to right; Verity Mackay, Rob Brown, Susan Stewart, Dr. Rob Peel, Anne Allan, Bruce Honeyman (NHS Highland) Mary Wakeling (Centre for Rural Health)
Co-director moves to new role
After five years, Professor Jane Farmer is moving on from the Centre for Rural Health to head the new La Trobe University Rural Health School in Australia. In her roles as co-director and chair of rural policy and management, Jane made significant contributions to the field of rural health and helped to develop the Centre for Rural Health's international profile.
Speaking about her time at the Centre, Jane said: "Working at the Centre for Rural Health has been the best job I've ever had. I've learned a lot, the team are fantastic and I believe the Centre is an asset for Scotland."
Dr Gaener Rodger will be acting head of the UHI team at the Centre for Rural Health until a new appointment is made.
Research into technology to reduce rural road deaths
Revolutionary technology which could help reduce deaths on rural roads is being investigated by Aberdeen scientists.
2341 road traffic accidents resulted in fatalities in the UK in 2008. The majority of these accidents — 60% - occurred on rural roads*.
Experts from the University of Aberdeen are developing a device which would provide medical advice and support for the first person to arrive on the scene of a road traffic accident.
It would also continuously monitor and record the casualty’s condition before the arrival of emergency services.
The system — which is in its initial stages of development - is likely to be a small hand held device which could be used by a doctor, nurse, paramedic, or a trained community first responder**, and would work by:
- Gathering and analysing information from a sensor placed on the injured person’s body to measure their vital signs
- Asking the first person to arrive at the scene to input key information on the casualty to build a picture of their condition
- Giving advice on the signs they should look for to determine the injured person’s condition and the action they should take to assist
- Storing information on what has happened at the scene which can be passed onto the ambulance crew, and then to the hospital to ensure all crucial information is retained throughout the chain of events
- Passing information onto hospital medical staff about the patient’s condition in advance of their arrival at hospital by connecting to a mobile device or broadband
A team of clinicians, computing scientists, and physiologists are working together on the project.
It is the first to be undertaken by dot.rural - the University of Aberdeen research hub - funded by a £11.8million grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under the Research Councils UK Digital Economy Programme- which is investigating how digital technologies could transform rural communities, society and business.
The research team plan to work with emergency services such as the British Association for Immediate Care, Scotland (BASICS Scotland), and to build on previous work with Intelesens — a spinout company of the University of Ulster which creates wireless monitoring devices.
Professor David Godden from the University of Aberdeen’s Centre for Rural Health and Professor in Computing Science at the University, Chris Mellish, are leading the project.
Professor Godden said: “Statistics confirm that road traffic accidents are a major health issue in rural areas and this is combined with the additional challenges faced by emergency services working in remote areas, in terms of how long it can take to get to the scene of an accident.
“Actions taken in the time immediately after an accident has occurred play a critical role in the casualty’s survival.
“We are investigating the creation of a device which would provide crucial support for the first person to arrive on the scene - helping them to make decisions and store key information on the injured person’s condition.
“The device would gather information on the casualty’s vital signs via a sensor placed on their body and information inputted by the person at the scene. This information would be analysed and advice would be provided on what should— or should not — be done in order to help the casualty.
“It would also constantly monitor the person’s condition and any change —for example a dramatic rise in heart rate — would signal an alert that action needed to be taken.
“In addition the device would provide a record of information on the casualty’s condition from the moment the person arrives on the scene meaning that all vital information gathered is retained and can be passed on accurately and promptly to the hospital medical team.
“The technology also could have the potential to be transferred for use in situations in the home — for example heart attacks or asthma attacks.”
Professor Mellish said: “This project is about looking at just one of the ways technology can support or enhance the delivery of healthcare in rural areas.
“The device will use a technique called Natural Language Generation — where complex data is translated into simple and understandable text.
“The medical data gathered by the sensor and any actions that need to be taken would be communicated by the device through clear and concise sentences making it simple for the first person on the scene to follow in what is likely to be a highly tense situation.
“A major part of our research project will be looking at how the device would function, taking into account that the person at the incident may be dealing with adverse weather conditions or heavy noise levels. For example should it be touch screen, use images, or dialogue to actually “talk” the person through the advice and information.”
Research into the device begins this month with the project running for three years.
For more information on dot.rural visit http://www.dotrural.ac.uk/.
Come along to the Centre for Rural Health Public Lecture Future Rural Public Services: can the DIY approach work?
Date: 16 November
Time: 4:30 - 6:30pm
Location: UHI Executive Office, Inverness
During the current culture of austerity measures where public sector is facing unprecedented levels of cuts, there is a sense of foreboding about the impact on rural services. Policy rhetoric is that individuals, families and communities have to do more and the state will do less. Kate Stephen will give her perspective on the potential implications for rural communities in Highland and will describe what the DIY approach can look like, warts and all. Clive Sheppard will draw on his experience to describe the role social enterprise can play in rural service delivery.
Kate Stephen has been Project Manager on the O4O: Older People for Older People project and has experience working and volunteering in community development and community care.
Clive Sheppard has extensive experience in the social enterprise sector as a mentor, teacher and practitioner. He sits on the Board of Community Care Assynt which was supported by the O4O project.
To book a place or enquire about the possibility of video-conference links in your area, please contact Paul Ellison on 01463 279344 or email paul.ellison@uhi.ac.uk.
O4O Project Holds International Policy Retreat
The O4O (Older People for Older People) project final conference was held at the Golf View Hotel in Nairn from 7th – 9th September. The conference took the form of an international policy retreat and was attended by researchers, practitioners and policy makers from each of the O4O partner countries (Greenland, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Sweden and Finland).
The O4O project was led by Prof. Jane Farmer at the Centre for Rural Health and aimed to work with communities to create social organisations to provide basic level services for older people in remote and rural areas. The ethos of O4O was one in which older people are key players in designing, setting up and running such organisations.
At the policy retreat, 
delegates heard presentations from each of the O4O partners detailing their project activities and O4O organisations created. Policy makers from each O4O partner country also gave presentations on the implications of project findings for their decision-making.
Large sections of the policy retreat were dedicated to facilitating discussion between delegates and promoting consideration of how project findings could influence policy and practice. Delegates took part, for example, in mixed nationality discussion groups that resulted in the production of a manifesto for the European Union. Delegates also 'voted' in a policy recommendations ballot, resulting in a national policy agenda for each O4O partner country.
A conference dinner was held on 7th September at which Dr. Carol Hill from University of Glasgow, Dumfries Campus launched the O4O toolkit developed by her team. The toolkit will be available from the O4O website (www.o4os.eu) and assist other communities in setting up O4O initiatives.
Knowledge exchange website launched March 2010 - Interested in knowledge exchange (KE) and building impact? Want to know what Scotland's KE pilot projects have been up to? Like to exchange information with others on KE?
The University of St Andrews Co-ordination Team for the Engaging with
Scottish Local Authorities scheme has just launched its Engage website.
Engage is intended to be a central information point for the five pilot
projects involved in the scheme. Link to the website to learn about what
these pioneering projects are doing, what events are underway and to find
lots of resources on knowledge exchange and impact.
The Engaging with Scottish Local Authorities scheme is sponsored by the
Economic & Social Research Council, the Scottish Funding Council and the
Local Authorities & Research Councils' Initiative. The five pilot projects
are:
- Building safer communities
- Enhancing local authorities' community engagement: Co-designing and prototyping strategies for carbon emission reduction
- Co-ordinating service provision and improving life chances for children in severe poverty
- Building capacity for evidence-informed practice in rural and remote island social service delivery
- Engaging with involuntary service users in social work
UHI Public Lecture Series opens on Wednesday March 3rd 2010: Professor Jane Farmer, Amy Nimegeer and Artur Steinerowski from the Centre for Rural Health will be presenting a lecture and taking questions directly frm the audience at UHI Executive Office - further information here. Full details of the Spring programme of lectures can be found at this link.
KTP Award
Michael Russell, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, presented Amy Nimegeer with the Knowledge Transfer Partnership Centres in Scotland Seminar Series Prize for BEST PRESENTATION BY AN ASSOCIATE IN 2009, at the KTP Scotland Award Ceremony, which was held on 2nd February 2010 at Dunblane Hydro. Amy has been working on the Remote Service Futures Project.
Professional development course on Wednesday, 10th February 2010
Please note that this event is now fully subscribed. We hope to hold a similar event in the future so please check these pages again for further updates.
The Centre for Rural Health will be hosting a one day professional development course on Wednesday, 10th February on Designing health care services for rural areas, with rural areas: engaging with communities. This course, focussed on innovative community engagement, would suit service providers in health and social care including rural practitioners, managers, and support staff.
The day will cover the basics of engaging rural communities and will feature interactive exercises from designing your own engagement process to taking part in a practice engagement activity. It will be a challenging, interesting day. Expect to come away with a fresh perspective on engaging rural communities.
The course will run from 10 am until 4 pm on Wednesday, 10th February 2010 at the Centre for Rural Health in the Centre for Health Science at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. There will be a £10 charge per participant to cover refreshments.
The event will be held as part of the launch of the Remote Service Futures Project Final Report and toolkit.
For more information about the Remote Service Futures Project please visit our website at www.abdn.ac.uk/crh/research/current/remote-service-futures/
There are a very limited number of places on this course and we will run on a first come, first served basis so we encourage you to get in touch quickly.
To reserve your place please contact Amy at amy.nimegeer@uhi.ac.uk or phone 01463 255931.
Pioneering scheme set to improve care-at-home for people with dementia?
A pioneering scheme has begun in Scotland which should lead to improved care services at home for people with dementia in remote and rural areas.
Two local authorities Orkney Islands and Scottish Borders have formed a partnership with the Centre for Rural Health, part of the prospective University of the Highlands and Islands, and the Scottish Agricultural College in a 100,000 project to enable care workers to exchange skills and knowledge with academics.
Funded with a grant of 80,000 from the Economic and Social Research Council, the Scottish Funding Council and the Local Authority Research Council Initiative, the 12-month project will pilot a range of knowledge-exchange activities such as seminars and study visits. Orkney Islands Council and Scottish Borders Council have each contributed 10,000 to the initiative, as well as staff time.
A member of staff from each council has visited UHI in Inverness and the Dementia Services Development Centre at the University of Stirling to train in the use of research evidence. With advice from academics and librarians, they will produce a "state of the art" review of research and expert opinion on dementia care-at-home services and assess its relevance to rural and remote communities with the aim of promoting innovative services to support people with dementia and their carers.
The review will begin a process within each local authority to engage health boards, voluntary organisations, dementia sufferers and their carers in the production of improved plans for care-at-home services.
Alzheimer's Scotland estimates that 69,500 people in Scotland currently have some form of dementia. It affects at least six per cent of people over 65. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form, but dementia can complicate Parkinson's disease, stroke and other degenerative neurological diseases such as Huntington's and motor neuron disease.
Professor Jane Farmer, UHI co-director of Centre for Rural Health, which is a partnership with the University of Aberdeen, said: "Academics are often criticised for ivory tower thinking. The Centre for Rural Health and the Scottish Agricultural College both have a track record in applied research that has practical benefits for service providers and communities. This project will enable us to develop new perspectives on research evidence from the point of view of the people who use the services.
"With other local authority staff also receiving training in how to locate, appraise and use research evidence in planning and evaluating services, the project will have a long term impact within each local authority.
"We'll be using innovative techniques for involving older people and their carers in preparation of dementia service plans, including working with Forum Theatre, a special form of drama that will encourage service users and carers to express their views about their needs and the services they receive.
Joan Mitchell, assistant director (community care) at Orkney Islands Council, said: "We are delighted to be part of this year-long research project which will help us, together with service users, carers and partner agencies to provide better services for people with dementia. Throughout the project, we will continually develop our dementia services based on the evidence which emerges from the research. This is particularly important in a remote and rural community where access to specialist services can be difficult, and where there is an increasing ageing population on many of the islands."
David Hume, chief executive of Scottish Borders Council, explained: "Providing cost effective quality services in a rural area is always a challenge. Given the substantial predicted increase of people with dementia in the Borders we very much welcome this approach to develop strong partnerships between care professionals, researchers and academics to improve services for local people and their area."
The council's director of social work, Andrew Lowe, added: "We are currently consulting on a local strategy for dementia services as part of a wider review of older people's services and this project is timely and highly relevant to our work".
The Future is Older - International Conference O4O: Older People for Older People
This international conference was held in Dumfries from 8th-9th September 2009 and included presenters from: The Scottish Government, World Health Organization, Think Tanks, Health and Welfare Services, Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland, Local Authorities, Scottish Enterprise, University of Gavle Sweden, National Institute for Health and Welfare Helsinki and the EU.
Further information about O4O can be found here.
How do we staff the islands and remote areas?
If you would like a copy of the presentations from the above?conference, which was held on 23rd June, please call Fiona Ryan on 01463-255893.
New 12m research hub to tackle digital challenges in rural areas
Digital research could help hurt mountaineers
Press & Journal article 29.04.09: http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1192616
NHS: Remotely Interested
UHI Public Lecture Wednesday March 18th: 4.30pm - 6.30pm
This public lecture, conducted in panel format, will be presented by three NHS representatives in response to questions raised at Professor Jane Farmer's inaugural lecture last October. In her lecture "Remotely Healthy?" Professor Farmer examined various (sometimes contentious) issues relating to healthcare provision in remote communities. This is a real opportunity for anyone who has an interest in healthcare, either on the receiving end or in the provision of to put their questions and ideas directly to NHS healthcare providers.
Chair: Professor Jane Farmer (UHI Chair in Rural Health Policy and Management)
Panel:
- Gill Keel (Head of Public Engagement, NHS Highland)
- Gill McVicar (General Manager, Mid Highland Community Health Partnership)
- Christina West (Clinical Services Manager, Primary Care/Associate Lead Nurse, Argyll & Bute CHP)
Providing services to Scotland's remote, rural and island places is immensely challenging. Place yourself in the shoes of a health care manager who must balance the health care needs of an ageing population with limited budgets and changing restrictions on employment, including the European Working Time Directive. At the same time, imagine living here - distant from A&E and hospital services and perhaps miles from your nearest district nurse or GP. It's perhaps no wonder that people in remote communities and healthcare managers sometimes have difficulties agreeing on how services should be provided.
The NHS and other service providers are increasingly looking at ways to work effectively with communities incorporating feedback to their decisions. At this UHI lecture, three NHS managers will discuss with the audience their experiences of working with rural communities and exchange ideas about how they can do this most effectively.
This event will take place at UHI Executive Office, Ness Walk, Inverness on 18th March from 4.30pm – 6.30pm. To book a place contact Paul Ellison at paul.ellison@uhi.ac.uk.
Older people to design own home
Older people in a remote Highlands community are to be asked to come up with ideas for the design of residential accommodation.
Read more on the BBC News website by visiting
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7909554.stm
Improving rural transport - flexibility and consultation are keys
UHI researcher presents study findings at lunchtime seminar in Aberdeen on Wednesday 18th February
Further information can be accessed here.
International eHealth Conference in Inverness
February 4th & 5th 2009
The Centre for Rural Health is hosting an international eHealth conference at the Centre for Health Science in Inverness, on the 4th -5th February 2009, as part of a project funded by the Northern Periphery Programme of the European Union. The project aims to exchange innovative eHealth solutions between northerly countries of Europe (Finland, Norway, Sweden and Scotland) primarily focusing on solutions for Primary Care, chronic conditions and remote specialist services. Each country has identified innovative eHealth solutions and plans to promote transfer of best practices between partner countries, with particular emphasis on how these solutions can benefit remote and rural communities. Pilots will be selected to run for a minimum period of 18 months, with local modification as appropriate.
Scandinavian partners are bringing eHealth experts (both clinical and technical) to the Inverness event to meet with colleagues from Scotland (including NHS Highland, local telehealth suppliers, University of Aberdeen staff from the Centre for Rural Health and the Scottish Centre for Telehealth).
The two day conference is an opportunity to hear about eHealth innovations in the partner countries, exchange knowledge and view demonstrations of products and services. Anyone with an interest in eHealth developments is most welcome to attend the first day (Wednesday 4th February), which will feature presentations from around Scandinavia and Scotland, and a showcase exhibition of products, services and current research.
Please contact Lee Dowie begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting http://www.abdn.ac.uk/crh/stafflist/LeeDowie.shtml for more details if you wish to attend, and attached agenda for the open session on the 4th February (attach agenda link). We look forward to an exciting couple of days!
Find out more about the Competitive Health Services Project
Award winning student
Following his presentation entitled 'Who are the social "entrepreneurs" and what do they actually do?' in July at the BABSON College Entrepreneurship Research Conference, The University of North Carolina Artur Steinerowski, 2nd year PhD student, has been awarded best social entrepreneurship paper at this conference.
Read Artur’s comments in the Times Higher Education
“Remotely healthy? Future health services for the Highlands and Islands ” - Professor Jane Farmer
October 8th: Jane Farmer's UHI Inaugural Lecture
Two hundred people living on a remote Highland peninsula. A district nurse who's been working there for 20 years. A community that in many ways is disadvantaged in terms of access to the kinds of services town people take for granted, but has ready access to a nurse that knows them and their family. She is accessible 24/7 and goes above and beyond the job description to care for her community. It's autumn 2008 and the nurse retires.
This lecture is about what happens in remote and rural communities when fragile service structures are disrupted. It is about what health services contribute to communities and about the tensions between modern ways of public service provision and the way that life is lived in remote communities. It considers the balance between personal and community responsibility - and service inputs - in improving the health of rural people, given current Scottish Government policy and looks at alternative visions of the future.
Professor Farmer gave her inaugural lecture at UHI Executive Office on October 8th .
Who will be the future rural workforce?
On Tuesday 23rd September, jointly with the Remote and Rural Healthcare Educational Alliance (RRHEAL), we hosted an afternoon of presentations as undernoted:
Rod Hooker - Physician Assistants in rural USA
(access Rod's powerpoint presentation here | access Rod's recorded soundfile presentation here)
Chris Mitchell - Physician Assistants in Australia
(access Chris's powerpoint presentation here | access Chris's recorded soundfile presentation here)
Gary Hart - An overview on the roles of medics, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and others
(access Gary's powerpoint presentation here | access Gary's recorded soundfile presentation here)
David Heaney and Mags Currie - Setting the scene: new roles in Scotrtish rural healthcare
(access David and Mags' powerpoint presentation here | access David and Mags'recorded soundfile presentation here)
Bob Wells - Giving a perspective from government policy on future staffing for remote and rural areas
(access Bob's powerpoint presentation here | access Bob's recorded soundfile presentation here)
Young Polish researcher is top UHI student
Artur Steinerowski has been named the UHI student of the year 2008 for his "remarkable" academic and personal achievements.
Artur is researching the emergence of rural social enterprise for his PhD here at the Centre for Rural Health. He beat off competition from candidates from across the network of colleges and learning centres in the north to scoop the prestigious award, with which he was presented at the UHI annual lecture in Elgin on 26th September.
Chairman of the judges, Martin Wright, who is UHI's director of marketing and communications, said "Artur had tough competition, but we couldn't fail to be particularly impressed by his hard work and determination to succeed."
Artur said he was "delighted and honoured" to be named UHI student of the year. He goes on to say "I think this award sends a message to other students that, if we really want to, we can make things happen. I know, however, that I wouldn't have been able to achieve anything without the kindness and support of people who have believed in me."
Professor Jane Farmer, his director of studies, said "We are thrilled that Artur is the UHI student of the year. He's a very kind and warm person, as well as being very bright. He is a real credit to UHI."
Forging New Collaborations
Annual Public Health Conference (Faculty of Public Health Committee of the Faculty of Public Health in Scotland) - 13/14 November 2008
Presentations will be given at the above event by Centre for Rural Health staff as undernoted:-
- Respiratory Disease and Clinical Peripherality: Where are the patients? by Gerry King
- Scottish Mountain Rescue Casulaties 2002-2006 by Alasdair Mort
- Remote Service Futures: Planning Health Services with Remote Communities (SPEED) by Amy Nimegeer
Find out more about the conference programme
Award winning UHI researcher fulfils his dreams
New premises for Centre for Rural Health
At the end of July we relocated to Phase II of the Centre for Health Science.
Based in Scotland's Highland capital city, Inverness, the Centre is a focus for excellence in healthcare and biotechnology research, education, training and business development, the first of its kind in the UK.
Located adjacent to Inverness's Raigmore Hospital, this muli-million pound facility represents a major milestone in adding to the already significant cluster of health science activity in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
Phase 3 is due for completion in November 2008.
The aim of the Centre is to instigate collaboration, knowledge transfer, improved clinical outcomes, publications and commercialisation.
Find out more... visit the Centre for Health Science website
Scotsman debate
Chaired by Lesley Riddoch (writer and broadcaster), the Scotsman Debate was held in Sgoil Lioinacleit, the secondary school in Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides on Tuesday 24th June. The panel included Professor Jane Farmer, UHI Milennium Institute, Centre for Rural Health and further information is available here.
Alasdair's day with the Scottish Air Ambulance staff
Alasdair Mort arranged a meeting with the Scottish Air Ambulance staff at Dalcross on 16th June where he imagined he'd just have a quick wander round and be on his way. But little did he know that they would actually take him along with them!
They started out from Inverness to Fort William, then on to drop a patient off in Edinburgh. From Edinburgh they headed north and stopped in Perth for a break ... then got a call for Wick! They then headed up to Wick to transfer a patient to Raigmore after which the crew flew back to Edinburgh with yet another patient.
Alasdair found the whole experience "absolutely AMAZING", from the low level speed of the aircraft, the way patients were monitored and handled, and most of all the generosity of the helicopter crew (Pete, Terry and Billy).
'An investigation of the potential of rural community health professionals as social entrepreneurs: a comparative studyof Scotland and Tasmania'
During April and May Professor Sue Kilpatrick from the University Department of Rural Health at the University of Tasmania joined us here at the Centre for Rural Health. Sue is an authority on community engagement and community leadership. Sue was here to gather data for a joint research project she is conducting with Jane Farmer. The project is looking at the potential role of rural health professionals as social entrepreneurs. It is looking at whether and how rural health professionals get involved in activities in their communities that have social goals, but are not directly related to their jobs; for example, a group to get funds for a new village hall or establishing an exercise group or a fun run. Jane Farmer gathered data for the project when she was in Tasmania in 2007 and Sue Kilpatrick met with rural community nurses, allied health professionals, paramedics, healthcare assistants and others during here time in the Highlands and Islands.
Older people care scheme planned
This project aims to help older people stay longer in their communities
A 2-day workshop was held in Inverness on 24th April in respect of a new Northern Periphery European Union funded project entitled O4O. Further information is available on the BBC web site.
'Competitive Health Services'
New project to commence in February 2008
PROJECT PART-FINANCED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION
The aim of this project is to enhance the provision and accessibility of health services in the sparsely populated areas (SPAs) of Europe. The project will map and identify European best practices and innovative eHealth solutions which can be transferred, further developed and integrated into a health care system elsewhere in the partner regions. Special focus will be on new eHealth service concepts and solutions for primary health care, chronic conditions and remote specialist services. The project will pilot up to four new eHealth services in Finland , Sweden, Norway and Scotland using an implementation model which can replicated elsewhere in the Northern Periphery and other peripheral areas of Europe.
For further information please contact:
- David Heaney d.heaney@abdn.ac.uk
- Lee Dowie begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting l.a.dowie@abdn.ac.uk
'040' (Older People for Older People)
Project commenced in April 2008
In December we heard that the European Union Northern Periphery Programme (http://www.northernperiphery.net/) has agreed to fund O4O – Older people for Older people.
This is a large project with partners from Sweden , Finland , Northern Ireland and Dumfries & Galloway.
O4O aims to go through a process of establishing social organisations to provide a range of services to help keep older people living independently in their rural communities. O4O will engage older people themselves in this work.
Demographic trends mean that, across Europe , there are higher proportions of older people living in rural areas compared with urban areas. This will continue with out-migration of young people for education and jobs and, in some places, in-migration of older people seeking rural quality of life. At the same time, rural service provision is challenged by high costs of travel and finding and keeping a range of staff.
A previous EU study by our team showed that older people already make substantial social contributions for each other in rural areas. This project seeks to harness the energy, skills and experience of older rural people and engage them in examining the needs of their communities for services such as transport, education, social care and some elements of health care. It then seeks to engage older people in finding solutions to enhance services that will keep people living independent, healthy and fulfilled lives in their communities for as long as possible.
For further information on this project contact jane.farmer@uhi.ac.uk.
HAVEN workshop was held on 31st January 2008
e- Health: Addressing eValuation, implEmentation and integratioN (HAVEN)
The H.A.V.E.N study (e- H ealth: A ddressing e V aluation, impl E mentation and integration) partners hosted a workshop on "e-Health research in Scotland " on 31st January 2008, at the Green House, Inverness.
‘H.A.V.E.N' is a feasibility study whose main aim is to develop a strategy for collaborative e-Health implementation and evaluation research.
This workshop provided an exciting opportunity to engage with a community spanning academics and NHS professionals that together, were able to address the research needs of Scotland and the UK in this area which is strategically important for the future of contemporary healthcare services.
View the Introduction to HAVEN here.
View the HAVEN review of reviews here.
View Julia Clark's presentation here.
View Gerry King's presentation here.
The BIG trial comes to an end
The BIG trial has now finished and we would like to thank all 14 primary care CHPs, for taking part in the trial for the required 2 years. We have submitted our final report to The Chief Scientist's Office, Scottish Executive Health Department and we are busy writing papers for peer reviewed journals."
Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Research and Development Group (NMAHP)
This group, chaired by Helen Bryers (Head of Midwifery at NHS Highland), is a relatively new group which has come together to support and develop research activity across the disciplines within NHS Highland. Membership includes representatives from the Highland CHPs, Mental Health, R & D, NES, Midwifery, Cancer Nursing, Public Health, AHPs and Universities of Stirling, Aberdeen and UHI. The group is in the process of developing a research framework that will have themes and priorities in line with NHS Highland corporate objectives and NHS Highland research strategy.
The representative from the Centre for Rural Health is Gerry King (contact her on gerry.king@abdn.ac.uk).