After months of the equivalent of the usual extreme winter pressures on services, NHS Grampian is bracing itself for even more as temperatures start to drop.
Health officials across the north-east have launched a recruitment drive to help departments cope with the influx of patients.
NHS Grampian has already had to warn residents to stay away from A&E in Aberdeen and Elgin unless they have a life-threatening condition due to pressures in recent months.
The backlog has led to queues of up to 10 ambulances outside at times with warnings of “extremely long waits” to be seen.
Simon Bokor-Ingram, chief officer for the Moray Health and Social Care Partnership stressed more staff is needed to keep the system operating.
He said: “Health and social care across Grampian face pressures on the system that haven’t relented since the beginning of the summer.
“We’ve effectively experienced winter pressures all through summer, now here we’re actually facing winter.
“Healthcare support worker roles and social care worker roles underpin our ability to effectively keep our systems flowing.
“We know this isn’t going to be an easy winter and we welcome anyone looking to develop their skills and support their community in a caring role to apply now.”
Meanwhile, Moray MSP Richard Lochhead recently claimed hundreds of orthopedic patients in Moray are waiting years to get onto the operating table.
Mr Bokor-Ingram stressed if the system remains “under continued pressure” this setup will remain the same during the winter period.
He advised people to contact NHS24, a pharmacy or GP practice – unless they suspect it’s an emergency.
‘Very fulfilling job’
Dr Gray’s Hospital downgraded its consultant-led maternity services in 2018.
Since then, mums-to-be have had to go to either Aberdeen Maternity Hospital or Raigmore Hospital in Inverness to give birth.
Maternity care assistant Sue Petrie believes taking more staff onboard will help tackle the problem.
She said: “There’s a lot of things that needs to be resolved, but I think the whole NHS needs more staffing and with maternity it’s just the same.”
Mrs Petrie has spent the last 26 years supporting families across Moray and believes anyone who likes caring for others should consider health and social care.
“It’s nice to be able to help people, especially new mums because they’re so vulnerable, it’s nice to give them support with breastfeeding or just general parent craft.
“It can be a very fulfilling job with plenty of opportunities to further your career in all different aspects of healthcare.
“You meet colleagues who end up being lifelong friends, there’s a good pension, job security, good annual leave time and you get support from your team.
“My advice to anyone thinking about a job in health or social care is to give it a shot. If you like caring and helping people, I think healthcare is a good option to go,” she added.
Healthcare employment opportunities in Grampian can be found on the NHS Scotland website.
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