New leadership plan for emergency care services

NEW bosses are set to be
introduced to manage emergency care at Lothian’s major hospitals.

A consultation with staff and unions is under way to discuss the changes, which should see posts created at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, the Western General Hospital and St John’s Hospital in Livingston.

Making improvements in unscheduled care has become a priority for the health board’s chief executive, Tim Davison, who took over in July from
Professor James Barbour.

Dr David Farquharson, NHS Lothian’s medical director, said: “We are in the process of looking to establish site-based hospital general managers whose main responsibility will be to manage unscheduled care across three hospital sites.

“The proposed changes will bring about closer working between community and acute health services.”

He added: “Each hospital site will have a dedicated chief nurse and clinical director
to help strengthen clinical 
leadership.”