Welcome to the Right Decision Service (RDS) newsletter for October 2024.
Development of the contingency solutions to maximise RDS resilience and minimise risk of future outages is in progress, aiming for completion by Christmas. As a reminder, these contingency arrangements are:
In the meantime, a gentle reminder to encourage users to download essential clinical toolkits to their mobile devices so that there is an offline version always available.
A new scheduled deployment with minor improvements drawn from support tickets, externally funded projects, information related to outages, and feature requests will take place in early December. Key improvements planned are:
We are also seeking approval to use the NHS Scotland logo and title for the RDS app on the app stores to help with audience engagement and clarity around the provenance of RDS.
We are still hopeful that user acceptance testing for at least the Search and browse enhancements can take place before Christmas. Thank you for your patience and understanding in waiting for these improvements. Timescales have been pushed back by old app migration challenges, work to address outages, and most recently implementing the contingency arrangements.
We are aware that there continue to be some issues around a number of RDS support tickets, in part due to constraints around visibility for the RDS team of the tickets in the existing support portal. We are investigating the potential to move to a new support ticket requesting system from early in the new year. We will organise the proposed webinar around support ticket processes once we have confirmed the way forward with the system.
There is a known issue with alterations in formatting of some RDS tables which seems to have arisen as a result of the 17 October deployment. Tactuum is working on a fix and on implementing additional regression testing to prevent this issue recurring.
Recently launched toolkits include:
NHS Lothian Infectious Diseases
Scottish Health Technologies Group – Technology Assessment recommendations
NHS Tayside Anaesthetics and Critical Care projects – an innovative toolkit which uses PowerAutomate to manage review and response to proposals for improvement projects.
If you would like to promote one of your new toolkits through this newsletter, please contact ann.wales3@nhs.scot
A number of toolkits are expected to go live before Christmas, including:
We have had a good response to the recent invitation to sign up to the new Teams channel for RDS editors. This provides a forum for editors to share learning, ideas and questions and we hope to hold regular webinars on topics of interest. The RDS team is in the process of joining participants to the channel and we’d encourage all editors to take part, using the registration form – available in Providers section of the RDS Learning and Support area.
The RDS team has worked with colleagues in NHS Grampian and the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre to evaluate the impact of the Prevent the progress of diabetes web and mobile app in a small-scale pilot project. This app provides access to local and national resources and services targeted at people with prediabetes, a history of gestational diabetes, or candidates for remission. After just 8 weeks of using the app, 94% of patients reported increased their knowledge and understanding of diabetes, and 88% said it had increased their confidence and motivation to make lifestyle changes, highlighting specific behaviour changes. The learning from this project is informing development of a service model based on tailored support for patient groups with, high, medium and low digital self-efficacy.
Please contact ann.wales3@nhs.scot if you would like to know more about this project.
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.)
To invite colleagues to sign up to receive this newsletter, please signpost them to the registration form - also available in End-user and Provider sections of the RDS Learning and Support area. 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.
With kind regards
Right Decision Service team
Healthcare Improvement Scotland
The Right Decision Service: the national decision support platform for Scotland’s health and care
Website: https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk Mobile app download: Apple Android
Money worries can affect everyone at some point in their lives when circumstances change,such as ill health, family job loss, disability, caring responsibilities, relationship breakdown or bereavement.
Having money worries can negatively impact mental health and wellbeing, causing anxiety, stress, depression and/ or feelings of hopelessness. Please visit our Mental Health and Wellbeing
section for sources of support.
NHSGGC provides financial support services for its patient population. These services are also available for staff
The Support and Information Services
(SIS) is available to all NHSGGC staff. It offers a wide range of support and has links to other community-based money advice.
To find out more, click on the links below to download posters and leaflets giving contact details for the Support and Information Service.
These resources can also be printed off and hung in staff areas for easy accessibility.
poster:
Do you need help with money worries? - NHSGGC 
flyer:
The Support and Information Services (SIS) are available for NHSGGC staff, patients, carers and visitors. They offer a wide range of support and have links to other community-based advice organisations, including those for money advice and resolving debt. This makes the SIS the ideal first point of contact for staff needing help and support.
The Support and Information Service (SIS) also provides a range of advice and support for staff who may be struggling during the current cost of living crisis.
We are pleased to confirm that, following an award by the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Healthcare Charity, the SIS will also be able to provide small hardship grants to staff. These will be provided as part of a wider needs assessment, to ensure any member of staff seeking to access the fund is also able to access sustainable, long-term support. The service is entirely confidential and your details will not be shared with anyone.
To access our hardship support:
. If we are closed, please leave a message & we will get back to you.
Visit the webpage for locations, opening times and local phone number, or email: sis@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
NHS Inform Scotland’s Service Directory contains details of money advice services across Scotland, this may be of particular use for staff who live outwith Greater Glasgow and Clyde:
Debt Navigator provides information and advice on how to deal with debts including- energy debts; mortgage, rent and council tax arrears; loans, credit cards and overdrafts; car finance and care costs. The website includes a web chat function.
A change in your circumstances, such as changes to your health, relationships, pregnancy or unexpected expenses can change what social security benefits and grants you may entitled to access. This section aims to assist those who may not be in receipt of all of the benefits or financial supports they may be legally entitled to.
Information on benefits and grants can be found here:
Information on local, free confidential money advice services in your area can be found via:
NHS Inform Scotland's Social Services Directory
Or:
Support and information centres
Information on benefits including Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Carer Support Payment, Child Benefit and others:
Information on benefits including Best Start Grants, Scottish Child Payment, Child Disability Payment, Carer Support Payment, Funeral Support Payment and others:
The Scottish Welfare Fund helps families and people in Scotland who are on low incomes.
You must be 16 or older and on a low income, or getting certain benefits, to apply for grants available.
Home Energy Scotland is pleased to be working with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to offer you support with free and impartial energy advice and support.
They cover everything from simple energy saving tips in the home to transport and active travel advice. Home Energy Scotland’s friendly advisors offer vital support to colleagues across NHSGGC.
Home Energy Scotland is a network of local advice centres covering all of Scotland. Our expert advisors offer free, impartial advice on saving energy, keeping warm at home, renewable energy, greener travel and cutting water waste. We’re funded by the Scottish Government and managed by the Energy Saving Trust, and our mission is to help people in Scotland create warmer homes, reduce their bills and help tackle climate change.
Recent research by Home Energy Scotland* has revealed that 70% of people in Scotland feel concerned about energy bills rising, with almost two thirds using more energy than usual during the first 12 months of the pandemic. The research also found that 59% of Scots have noticed a worrying rise in their energy bills already.
Simple steps like changing your thermostat settings in the warmer months, regularly switching your energy supplier or changing the way you pay can all make positive changes to the amount you spend on keeping you warm and well at home.
Home Energy Scotland’s friendly advisors can help you make the best use of your energy, so your home is warmer and your bills are as low as possible.
Find out if you could be eligible for home energy efficiency improvement worth, on average, £5000. Available to home owners and private tenants, Warmer Homes Scotland could see energy efficient home improvements – like insulation or a new heating system – installed in your home at no cost to you.
We can help you make changes that make a big difference to the planet – and your purse. From heating your home using renewable technology to choosing greener ways to travel, our specialists will help you make the right choice for your lifestyle. Take a look at our webinar programme to learn more.
There’s lots of support out there to help you make greener changes and reduce your energy use. We’re even offering free ebike trails to GP surgeries.
If you’re worried about your energy bills, call Home Energy Scotland free of charge on 0808 808 2282 – quoting NHSGGC
You can also contact our Advice Team by email at adviceteam@sc.homeenergyscotland.org– quoting NHSGGC
* Energy Saving Trust, “Climate Change Research” April 2021
With the weather changing, the cost of energy might be on your mind at the moment. The new ‘Home Energy E-Learning’ module could be a perfect way to help you keep cosy this winter and save money on your bills.
The module will help you save energy at home to reduce your bills and tackle the climate emergency. It is brought to you by the team at Home Energy Scotland and is available through LearnPro under the CPD Category under show all learning and is called ‘Home Energy E-Learning’. You can also search using the search box and type in Home Energy to find the module. To add this to your learning, please click add and confirm. You can then click select to view the module.
The module will take you on a virtual tour of a typical home, identifying energy saving hotspots and help you discover how much money and energy you could save by making simple changes. You’ll get a personalised action plan to download and take away, with tips and details of funding and support to make energy saving home improvements.
Bloomberg UK have created a helpful - graphic to show the cost of running different household appliances according to the energy cap scheduled for October 2022.
Budgeting for winter's energy bills - Estimated single use costs for appliances October 2022 - Jan 2023
A carer is a person who provides or intends to provide unpaid, practical, physical and emotional support to relatives, friends or neighbours due to physical or mental illness, addiction, frailty or disability. This includes young people and parents. They do not need to live with the person to be their carer.
If this is you, you are not alone. There is help and support available for you and the person you look after.
Many unions offer support to their members who are suffering financial hardship. Check with your union for details.
If you are a member and you are experiencing financial difficulties, whether due to coronavirus or other circumstances, There for You can offer you support, including one-off grants.
If you are a Unison member and you are experiencing financial difficulties, whether due to coronavirus or other circumstances, There for You can offer you support, including one-off grants.
Like all credit unions, the NHS Credit Union is a financial co-operative, owned and controlled by its members.
We help care for the financial health of members across Scotland and the North of England and our membership is growing at record rates. Almost 20,000 NHS workers are currently enjoying the benefits of being an NHS Credit Union member.
Our mission is to promote financial well-being and a savings culture in the NHS industry alongside reducing financial stress in staff and providing ethical financial assistance to those who need it.
For access to savings products and loans, paid directly from your salary the NHS Credit Union is easy to join. It can help you to budget your money or to save for holidays, unexpected spends or even your professional registration fees.
YouTube video Rosie's story
:
Safe Harbour is confidential service open to all members, that aims to help those who may be experiencing economic abuse to take back control of their money.
The service is currently running a simple three questions survey to find out about member awareness of the service and to inform future developments.
A wide range of services are available to NHSGGC staff.
NHS Staff Benefits offers discounts and special offers on many products and services from holidays and eating out, to gym membership. Log in to find out further details:
Qualified advisers can help you find the right mortgage, matching your circumstances and requirements to the right product.
You can arrange an appointment by calling 0141 213 8353
Through NHS Staff Benefits, staff can access support in planning for their retirement or if they have been affected by recent pension changes.
Some stores offer membership to certain groups of workers, including NHS staff, giving access to discounted goods.
The Company Shop
offers discounts to NHS staff, and also reduces waste by redistributing surplus food and household products from some of the biggest UK retailers.
Did you know that you can claim tax relief on the cost of laundering your uniform? This includes nursing and allied health professionals and also domestic, catering and portering staff.
You can also claim tax relief on registration fees that you are required to pay to your professional body. It is easy to do and you may also get a backdated sum. To check your eligibility and then apply visit:
Are you interested in learning more about easy retirement planning or how to understand mortgages better. Do you need support on how to manage your money better or maybe you feel you need a midlife MOT on wealth, work & wellbeing? Then these Open University courses may be for you.
They are free & range from as little as 2 hours study upwards depending on the course you choose.
You can get up to £500 every 3 months (£2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare.
For more information about how you can receive help with childcare costs have a look on the Childcare Choices website.
Problem gambling is defined as gambling that is disruptive or damaging to you or your family, or interferes with your daily life. Most people in the UK gambled or played the lottery in the last year and with the rise in the number of online internet gambling sites and mobile apps has made gambling more easily and readily accessible – activities like playing the lottery once or twice a week aren’t harmful however, for around 9 in 1000 people, gambling becomes a problem or an addiction.
Problem gambling can strain relationships, impact on work and have serious financial consequences. There is a risk that escalation of the problem could lead to harmful behaviours like running up huge debts or even stealing money to gamble.
For information on problem gambling and the signs of problem gambling visit:
There is a dedicated specialist resource via Occupational Health via an addiction’s nurse who can be accessed via self-referral on 0141 201 0600
. Further information can be found via:
Alternatively your manager may refer you via this link: https://nhsggc.opasg2.com/login/form Further information about this can be found here: Management Referrals – NHSGGC
Gamblers Anonymous Scotland has meetings every day, and is free to attend. The meetings are informal and friendly, and there are currently around 70 meetings held in Scotland every day. Gamblers Anonymous also has a 24-hour helpline you can phone on 0370 050 8881
.
A member of Gamblers Anonymous will answer your call – someone who fully understands the problem of compulsive gambling. Please note that this is NOT a crisis hotline. If you are in crisis or suicidal call 999.
If you have a loved one with a gambling problem, support is available from Gam-Anon Scotland. The organisation has supportive, confidential meetings that are separate from Gamblers Anonymous meetings. Call the Gam-Anon 24-hour helpline on 0370 050 8881
If you’re struggling with the impact gambling is having on your life, or the life of a loved one, phone Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 for support and counselling. Breathing Space is open:
· Weekdays: Monday to Thursday 6pm to 2am
· Weekends: Friday 6pm to Monday 6am
Public Health Scotland’s Virtual Learning Environment [VLE] has developed 6 modules aimed at those working in front line public services, with some sections dedicated to those in a management role. Please see list below
· Understanding Poverty
· Understanding Poverty, Stigma and Discrimination
· Poverty Sensitive Practice
· My Role in Service Planning and Design
· My Role in Organisational Policy
· My Role as a Line Manager
The module objectives are;
To access these modules please visit the VLE using this link Course: Challenging poverty stigma and discrimination (publichealthscotland.scot)
You will be required to enrol to access these modules
Please familiarise yourself with the Challenging Poverty Stigma Hub by watching this short VT. To access, click on the screen below:
(For more information on how to apply for a grant) (National Wellbeing Hub) (National Wellbeing Hub) (CIPD) (Download the pdf:Help with Bills Scotland)
Find out more at 'All about money - information for managers'
