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Contents Soundings:11

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SACH  Soundings
 No 11 September 2002

Page 4

CRAG Implementation Sub-Group (CIS)

I have represented SACH as a lay member of this group for the past year. CIS, is part of CRAG (Clinical Resource and Audit Group) – what did we do in hospitals before clinical audit and clinical effectiveness? The Implementation Sub-Group does, or attempts to do, what it says in the title of the group (rather than on the outside of the tin) - it is responsible for ensuring what has been audited and thought to be clinically effective is put into place within the NHS in Scotland.
The group is made up of representatives of different disciplines working within primary and acute healthcare across Scotland. As a lay representative, I have attempted to share something of my perceptions of what issues are around for patients and their relatives, as well as staff, who are working at the coalface within acute hospitals. Though I must admit it has taken me a year to get my head round some of the jargon and how different groups and boards relate to each other. I have found I have learned a lot about how the NHS ticks and how at an administrative level there is genuine desire to seek change within the health service in order that patients receive more appropriate care and have a greater say in that care.
However, as healthcare service staff, we are all too well aware clinical effectiveness is also about providing the most efficient and effective care within a restricted budget. One of the roles of the sub-group has been to set up, co-ordinate and run topic-specific workshops relating to major healthcare issues.
In the coming year, there will be a conference about dental care, integrated care pathways and perhaps coronary heart disease. It was most interesting to be part of the discussion that is proposing that a conference be held on the topic of communication in the health service. I have been made to feel very welcome and included at the meetings and the sub-group is keen to increase its lay membership as part of the Scottish Executive’s drive for greater patient focus and public involvement with the NHS in Scotland.

Ewan Kelly
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh 
(Now Edinburgh University)

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Fergus McLachlan

Rev Fergus C McLachlan started work as whole time chaplain at Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock in July. Fergus is a Church of Scotland minister but has been out of the ministry since 1988. He was assistant minister at Aberdeen: Mastrick in 1981-82 and minister at Bridge of Earn Perth in 1982-88 also serving as part time chaplain at Bridge of Earn Hospital 1983-88. Since 1988 he completed training in social work and worked with Strathclyde/Glasgow City Council (1991-99) and most recently with North Ayrshire Council in 3 Senior posts in Social Work including Service Manager.
Also in July, Rev Ian Stirling (formerly minister of Castlehill Church in Ayr) took up post as chaplain at the Ayr Hospice in succession to Jeanette Jenkins who retired earlier in the year.
On 4 September Rev Janet MacMahon left her post as Chaplaincy Co-ordinator at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow to move to be minister at the Parish of Castlemilk West.
Changes have taken place in Lothian University Hospitals Trust following the departure of Rev Ewan Kelly, to take up a post as lecturer at New College, Edinburgh on 30 September. Because of all the upheaval expected by the move of the Royal Infirmary to the Little France site, it has been agreed to postpone recruitment of a successor to Ewan. Rev Sandy Young has relocated from the Western General to the Royal. Rev Joanne Finlay (chaplain at Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary) and Rev Harry Telfer (Chaplain at the City Hospital, Edinburgh) have been appointed to work half-time at the Western for 6 months.

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