Welcome to the Right Decision Service (RDS) newsletter for August 2024.
Contingency planning for RDS outages
Following the recent RDS outages, Tactuum and the RDS team have been reviewing the learning from these incidents. We are committed to doing all we can to ensure a positive outcome by strengthening the RDS to make it fully robust and clinically resilient for the future.
We would like to invite you to a webinar on26th September 3-4 pm on national and local contingency planning for future RDS outages. Tactuum and the RDS team will speak about our business continuity plans and the national contingency arrangements we are putting in place. This will also be a space to share local contingency plans, ideas and existing good practice. We would also like to gather your views on who we should send communications to in the event of future outages.
I have sent a meeting request for this date to all editors – please accept or decline to indicate attendance, and please forward on to relevant contacts. You can also contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot directly to register your interest in participating.
2.National IV fluid prescribing calculator
This UK CA marked calculator is now live at https://righdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/ivfluids . It has been developed by a multiprofessional steering group of leads in IV fluids management, as part of the wider Modernising Patient Pathways Programme within the Centre for Sustainable Delivery. It aims to address a known cause of clinical error in hospital settings, and we hope it will be especially useful to the new junior doctors who started in August.
Please do spread the word about this new calculator and get in touch with any questions.
Vascular surgery pathways from the Modernising Patient Pathways Programme within the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare Delivery.
Updated guidance on current and future Medical Device Regulations
We have updated and simplified this guidance within our standard operating procedures. We have clarified the guidance on how to determine whether an RDS tool is a medical device, and have provided an interactive powerpoint slideset to steer you through the process.
Guide to six stages of RDS toolkit development
We have developed a guide to support editors and toolkit leads through the process of scoping, designing, delivering, quality assuring and implementing a new RDS toolkit. We hope this will help in project planning and in building shared understanding of responsibilities throughout the full development process. The guide emphasises that the project does not end with launch of the new toolkit. Implementation, communication and evaluation are ongoing activities throughout the lifetime of the toolkit.
Training sessions for new editors (also serve as refresher sessions for existing editors) will take place on the following dates:
Thursday 5 September 1-2 pm
Wednesday 24 September 4-5 pm
Friday 27 September 12-1 pm
To book a place, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot, providing your name, organisation, job role, and level of experience with RDS editing (none, a little, moderate, extensive.)
7 Evaluation projects
Dr Stephen Biggart from NHS Lothian has kindly shared with us the results of a recent survey of use of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Anaesthesia toolkit. This shows that the majority of consultants are using it weekly or monthly, mainly to access clinical protocols, with a secondary purpose being education and training purposes. They tend to find information by navigating by specialty rather than keyword searching, and had some useful recommendations for future development, such as access to quick reference guidance.
We’d really appreciate you sharing any other local evaluations of RDS in this way – it all helps to build the evidence base for impact.
If you have any questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot If you would prefer not to receive future newsletters, please email Olivia.graham@nhs.scot and ask to be removed from the circulation list.
Health visitors are nurses or midwives who promote healthy lifestyle and prevent illness through the Universal Health Visiting Pathway. They work with you through your pregnancy up until your child is ready to start school.
Your health visitor may be able to refer you on to other health professionals, for example if there are hearing or vision concerns.
Contact them by phoning your local health visiting team.
Health visitors also provide advice, support and guidance in caring for your child, including:
Breastfeeding, weaning and healthy eating
Exercise, hygiene and safety
Your child’s growth and development
Emotional health and wellbeing, including postnatal depression
Safety in the home
Stopping smoking
Contraception and sexual health
Sleep and behaviour management (including temper tantrums!)
Toilet training
Minor Illnesses (if you have any immediate health concerns the Pharmacy, GP or NHS 24 should be contacted)
Health Visiting in the Community
Whilst you are pregnant
You may receive a letter introducing you to your Health Visitor or Family Nurse
At around 32-34 weeks pregnant you may receive a visit a home to introduce you to the service and talk through what you can expect support with
Together we will talk about understanding and caring for your baby
Together we will talk about how you plan to feed your baby and will support you with that
Together we will talk about keeping baby safe once you bring baby home, which will include information on baby sleeping
We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
We can support you with how you are feeling, your health in general and we can talk to you about money matters too.
We will tell you all about the red book that is given to you once baby arrives
The visit may last around an hour
HENRY
Healthy Start, Brighter Future
The HENRY programme aims to support families of children aged 0-12 years with engaging the whole family to adopt healthier eating and lifestyle habits. HENRY addresses a range of areas that are relevant to families including but not limited to; parenting, well-being, self-esteem and confidence, portion sizes, healthy food swaps, getting active as a family, food groups and food labelling.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are working in partnership with Early Years Scotland (EYS) and Possibilities for Each and Every Kid (PEEK) to deliver the HENRY programmes and workshops. You will find the registration forms in the how and where to access HENRY section of our website.
First home visit after baby is born
At around 11-14 days after your baby is born, the Health Visitor or Family Nurse may come to your home to meet baby and you
At every visit we will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too
We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
We will ask you about your baby’s health and wellbeing
Together we may talk about your baby’s feeding
We will discuss how your baby will grow and develop over the next few weeks
We can tell you about local groups and classes that you might want to go along to
We will chat about baby immunisation
We can chat and tell you about places that can offer support or advice on many topics including managing your money
We will check baby out from Head to Toe talking you through everything we are checking, including their weights, their length, their head measurement and then they are all recorded in your red book.
We are here to support you and we encourage you to ask any questions you have, helping you to understand your child's growth, health and development.
This visit will last around an hour
Below is a sample of the leaflets or links to information that we will leave with you or talk you through whilst visiting:
Keep your family safe from second-hand smoke – NHSGGC.
Click on image to open PDF
This leaflet is available in other languages - use this link to list them
Vitamin D for breastfeeding women and children under 3 – NHSGGC.
Click on image to open PDF
This leaflet is available in other languages - use this link to list them
NHS Pharmacy First Scotland: Information for Patient – NHSScot.
When baby is between 3 and 5 weeks old, you may be offered 2 visits from the Health Visitor
We will check baby’s weight and chat about how you feel feeding your baby is going
We will chat about how you are feeling and also about being a parent and answer any questions you have
We will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
We have some leaflets we can leave you around any of the things we have chatted about, or provide you some recommended websites to look at
These visits will last between 30 minutes to an hour
Between 6 and 8 weeks old
When baby is between 6-8 weeks you may receive another visit
We will ask you if you are happy or worried about how baby is feeding
We will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too
We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
We will chat about baby immunisation
We will check baby from Head to Toe talking you through everything we are checking, including their weight, their length, their head measurement, development and they are all then recorded in your red book
We will check if you have had or have an appointment booked for your baby's 6week medical assessment
We will remind you to think about contraceptive choices
This visit will last around an hour
At 3 months and 4 months
At 3 months (12 weeks) and 4 months (16 weeks) the Health visitor may come your home to see you and baby
We will check baby babies weight, length, head measurement and they are all then recorded in your red book.
We will ask you if you have any questions about your babies health or development
We will chat about how you feel feeding baby is going and we may also talk about when to start thinking about weaning
Together we will talk about safe sleeping
We will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too
We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
We will ask you how you are feeling, how your mood and sleep has been and also to complete a short questionnaire
Together we will talk about when your next visit might be
Both visits will last around an hour
Below is a sample of the leaflets or links to information that we will leave with you or talk you through whilst visiting
Drinks for Babies and Young Children - Childsmile
Click on image to view PDF
**HV's This is available in other languages however it does not have its own loading page on website, therefore we may need to add a link for each language to get to the correct page? Need to have a think about this as to what would be best practice? Link to page with other resources ishere
Fun First Foods - Public Health Scotland
Click on image to view PDF
To see list of other languages available click on Link
Snack Ideas for Children - Childsmile
Click on image to view PDF
This is available in other languages however it does not have its own loading page on website, therefore we may need to add a link for each language to get to the correct page? Need to have a think about this as to what would be best practice? Link to page with other resources isLink
Toothpaste and Cup **HVs is this handed out at same time? If so do we have a picture or do we just want to include that in the written info of what to expect during visit
Childsmile community and practice
Click on image to view PDF
This is available in other languages however it does not have its own loading page on website, therefore we may need to add a link for each language to get to the correct page? Need to have a think about this as to what would be best practice? Link to page with other resources is Link
Vitamin D Postcard - NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Bag given to parents with additional info – ** HV's Do we want to expand on this or happy to include as a bullet point in the what to expect at the visit info
When your child is 8 months old, we may come for another home visit
We will use some toys and may use a questionnaire that has lots of questions about how your baby is growing and developing, we may fill this in together
We will measure your child’s weight and height and write these in your red book
We will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too
We will chat about your baby’s eating, sleeping, home safety and their teeth (even if they are not through yet)
Together we will talk about your child’s next immunisation due around 13months
We can tell you about local groups and classes that you might want to go along to
We can chat and tell you about places that can offer support or advice on many topics including managing your money
Together we will talk about when you might be visited next time
This visit will last around 30 minutes to 45 minutes
13 to 15 months old
When your child is between 13 and 15 months old, we may come for another home visit
We will use some toys, and may use a questionnaire that has lots of questions about how your child is growing and developing, we may fill this in together
The Health Visitor will measure your child’s weight and height and write these in your red book
We will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too
We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
You will have time to talk about your child’s progress and ask us any questions you may have
Together we may talk about your child’s eating habits, sleeping habits, immunisation and your child’s teeth
We can tell you about local groups and classes that you might want to go along to
Together we will talk about when you might be visited next time
This visit will last around 45 minutes to an hour
Below is a sample of the leaflets or links to information that we will leave with you or talk you through whilst visiting
Book Bug Bag given to parents with additional info – **HVs Do we want to expand on this or happy to include as a bullet point in the what to expect at the visit info
Play at home toddler book – ** HV's no link available, although could potentially speak to CAPT and ask if we can use a PDF, but there would be a cost?
Listening, Understanding, Talking and Interacting - NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Click on pink box to access link
This information is available in other languages click link for list
27 to 30 months old
When your child is between 27 and 30 months old, we may come for another home visit
We will use some toys, and may use a questionnaire that has lots of questions about how your child is growing and developing, we may fill this in together
The Health Visitor will measure your child’s weight and height and write these in your red book
We will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too
We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
You will have time to talk about your child’s health and wellbeing
Together we can talk about toilet training
We can tell you how to apply for nursery places
Together we will talk about when you might be visited next time
This visit will last around 45 minutes to an hour
Below is a sample of the leaflets or links to information that we will leave with you or talk you through whilst visiting
Keep your family safe from second-hand smoke – NHSGGC.
Take it right outside - NHS Inform Campaign. This is a link to Website with lots of info and quizzes
4 to 5 years old
When your child is between 4 and 5 years old, we may come for another home visit
We will use some toys, and may use a questionnaire that has lots of questions about how your child is growing and developing, we may fill this in together
The Health Visitor will measure your child’s weight and height and write these in your red book
We will ask you about your physical, emotional, mental and financial health, we are here to support you too
We will chat about what support you have and your relationships.
You will have time to talk about your child’s health and wellbeing
We can tell you when you should register your child for school
We will chat about any future visits and if they are needed or not.
This visit will last around 45 minutes to an hour
Moving On To Primary School
Click on blue box above to access link
Below is a sample of the leaflets or links to information that we will leave with you or talk you through whilst visiting
Happy Healthy Tots
This leaflet is available in other languages - use this 
