Businesses thanked for signing up to NHS Grampian's newly-launched Pick Me Up project

FRONTLINE National Health Service workers have thanked more than a dozen organisations for signing up to a project aimed at helping lift pressure on the NHS in the north-east – and encouraged more to do the same.

NHS Grampian's Pick Me Up project launched on Monday and businesses including Aberdeen International Airport, Aberdeen Inspired and Aberdein Considine have pledged their support to the scheme.

The project will see businesses offer staff as much flexibility as possible to collect their loved-ones from hospital, when they are ready for discharge, rather than waiting until after their shift.

Orthopaedic surgeon David Lawrie explained why the project is so vital.

He said: “Getting people who are ready for discharge home and out of hospital would provide us with more bed space in the hospital, which in turn lifts pressure from the wards, the emergency department and the ambulances at the front door.

“It would mean we would be able to get people into the beds and wards they need to be in, to get the specialist care they need.

"In turn, for example, that allows us to treat others more quickly in the emergency department. It goes beyond the front door however, it would let us treat inpatients in every area – be they cancer patients, neurology patients, urology patients, orthopaedic patients – by freeing up staff and beds.

“Ultimately getting people, who are well enough to be discharged, home more quickly can aid their recovery – it's been shown that people recuperate better at home once they are well enough to be there.”

Lee Allen, consultant in critical care, hopes support for the project will continue to increase.

He added: “This isn't something we need due to Covid-19, going forward we need this to be how we operate, even once we are beyond the pandemic.

"If enough businesses and people support this project it allows us to be as efficient as possible as a health service, and for that to work we need local businesses and the public to help.

“We're absolutely delighted by the response to the project since its launch. It’s excellent to see the support from companies, that have come forward and pledged support not just to NHS workers, but our patients, the people of the north-east and, ultimately, their own staff.

"So a big 'thank you' to everyone that has signed-up. It really is heart-warming to know that level of support is there from local employers.”

Aberdeen International Airport, Aberdeen Inspired, Aberdein Considine and Hampton all said they had been inspired to support the project based on the clear positive impact it can have, if enough businesses join forces to support it.

A spokesman for Aberdeen International Airport said: “When we heard about the Pick Me Up Project it seemed like an excellent opportunity to support the region's health care workers and, at the same time, support our staff to be there for their loved-ones, at what can be a stressful time for them.”

For more information or to sign-up get in touch with gram.communications@nhs.scot using the subject line “Pick Me Up Project”.