Royal Victoria Building at the Western General Hospital Royal Victoria BuildingWestern General HospitalPorterfield RoadEdinburghEH4 2XUTelephone: 0131 537 1000(*) Background In June 2012 the Medicine for the Elderly services were transferred from the Royal Victoria Hospital on Craigleith Road, Edinburgh to the new purpose built Royal Victoria Building at the Western General Hospital. At the same time the Inpatient and out patient services for Rheumatology and Dermatology were transferred to the building from within the WGH. An Operational Policy for the Royal Victoria Building has been agreed during the commissioning period. There are 6 wards and an Assessment and Rehabilitation Centre in the Royal Victoria Building. Ward 70 – Medicine for the Elderly – Ground Floor Ward 71 – Medicine for the Elderly – Ground Floor Ward 72 – Medicine for the Elderly – 1st Floor Ward 73 – Orthopaedic Rehabilitation – 1st Floor Ward 74 – Acute Elderly Medicine – 2nd Floor Ward 75 – Rheumatology and Dermatology in patient and day patients – 2nd Floor Assessment and Rehabilitation Centre for day patients and out patients – Lower Ground Floor Key Principles Our Values for NHS Services for Older People in Lothian Quality, Accessibility & Equality We recognise the importance of respect, dignity and self-determination for individuals and groups We will deal sensitively, fairly and on an equitable basis when caring and treating older people Cultural awareness of the needs of older people will be central to the provision of the services we plan and provide Older people will receive health care when they need it and as swiftly as possible Services will be accessible to meet older people’s needs We recognise the need to ensure the involvement of the frail and vulnerable and where unable to speak for themselves their right to advocacy Working Better Together We recognise the importance of clear and accurate communication, both written and oral and the need to share it in an appropriate way Services will be planned and provide to maintain people at home, prevent inappropriate admission to hospital, avoid delayed discharges from hospital, and support people when discharged home We will improve our partnership working with local authorities, the voluntary sector, carers, the universities and other interested groups for the benefit of older people. We recognise the valuable and integral role each group plays in the provision of care and services for older people and the importance of good communication between the sectors. We value the involvement of users and carers in decisions about care and treatment and the development, monitoring and planning of services. We recognise the need to support carers and this will be taken forward through the development of the NHS Lothian Carer Information Strategy We recognise that the nature of partnership working needs to be clear, with roles, responsibility and accountability clearly defined and communicated to the public, this will be done in the main through the Community Health (and Care) Partnerships. Proposed change to services will be considered with reference to other work being carried out by NHS Lothian and partners Hospital, community health, housing and social care services will be developed together and should complement each other; people will be encouraged to work across boundaries to achieve better outcomes for older people Meeting Standards & Workforce Development Older people will receive effective and safe emergency health care Disruption to older people whilst they are receiving care should be minimised; we recognise that continuity is essential Hospital and community health and social care services will make the most of opportunities to recruit, develop and retain staff collectively Emergency and planned services will work together to meet waiting times targets and reduce delayed discharges Improved services should be developed to meet present and future demands Training and research standards will be maintained, with the need to ensure staff are able to be released for training and development The design of future services will enable NHS Lothian to make sure that their staff do not work for more than the number of hours they are allowed to legally Best clinical care will be provided, it will be based on evidence and in line with national standards set out by the Scottish Executive and other professional groups. Improvements in care will be demonstrated through performance against standards Financial Balance Services will be clinically and financially sustainable. This means that we will be able to get the necessary numbers of doctors, nurses and other appropriately trained staff, and the necessary money, to deliver the high-quality services that people need. (* Please Note: This is a central NHS Lothian Switchboard. Please be prepared to specify which site you’re looking to contact)
