We live and work in challenging times of great change – globally, nationally and locally. As we approach Christmas 2019, it is hard going in the NHS. Winter is upon us and the increased demands it brings on services. On top of the fact that there has been little or no down time to draw breath over the intervening months since last winter. Increased public expectations, performance targets, austerity and challenges over recruitment and retention add to the complexity.
In recent weeks two well-kent and much loved members of staff in DGRI have died and many of us will be aware of other colleagues in the health board who are seriously or terminally ill or bereft. Christmas can be a difficult time for all sorts of reasons. Life can feel hard, unfair and downright dark at times.
What keeps us going? What brings light, joy and resilience? What raises our spirits (and not just a dram!)? I think this story which I came across recently gets to the heart of it….
It is of a young man who lived alone on an isolated house in the Glenkens. It was a wild and lonely place for anyone to live. One of the things that made him feel less alone was that when he went outside at night in the darkness he could see a light. It was far away over the other side of the glen but this sign of life gave him hope.
One day he decided to go in search of it. It was a long and dreich walk in the rain and it 
was very dark by the time he reached the outskirts of a village. Wabbit and wet, he knocked at the first door he came to, and explained his search for the mysterious light that gave him hope.
‘I know it!’ replied the woman who had answered the door. ‘It gives me hope as well.’ And she pointed back in the direction from which he had come. There, on the horizon, was a single light shining – a sign of life in the darkness. The light from his own house.
Mutual connectedness or in healthcare the love and care (and banter) we receive from, and offer colleagues – as well that which we may experience in the company of patients and carers – is fundamental to enabling us to find light in our work even when it is hard going.
It is our daily human connectedness – what Peter Provonost (a Canadian medic and leader in the world of quality improvement ) calls ‘micro-moments of love’ , linked with kindness which Gracey Bell explored in a recent Dghealth blog, – which makes a difference to our wellbeing and to those with whom we work. These are ‘…at the heart of healthcare, giving us purpose, meaning, and satisfaction and joy in our work.’ (British Medical Journal Editorial, Christmas 2019)
Light ….‘in the bleak midwinter’…
Ewan Kelly is Spiritual Care and Wellbeing Lead for NHS Dumfries and Galloway
“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” (William Penn)
The Sustainability and Modernisation Programme (SAM) has challenged us to think of ways to deliver health and social care differently so that people have improved health and wellbeing outcomes, are enabled to live well for longer and resources are used differently to increase sustainability. With over 800 ideas submitted to SAM so far it will come as no surprise that one of the themes emerging is ‘better use of digital technology’. There are many ways that people can use digital technology that is already familiar to them to better manage their health and wellbeing.
NHS Near Me Dumfries and Galloway will initially offer people the choice of attending their return outpatient appointment either at home or at a local NHS facility. Obviously we won’t be able to offer this service for every appointment immediately so we are starting with clinics run by Diabetes, Rheumatology, Respiratory, Renal, Speech and Language Therapy and Psychological services but over time we hope that this will increase.
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I do not like that SAM-I-am”
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