Cathie Cowan: Last News

Work is underway to ensure NHS Forth Valley can cope with an expected rise in hospital admissions over the winter peak.

Prudent NHS Forth Valley health chiefs are doubling down on the need to cut back on agency nurses as they aim to rein in their spending post-pandemic.

Staff at the region’s under pressure health board have been working extra hours in their free time due to concerns for patients facing long waiting times.

NHS Forth Valley chiefs have published a wide-ranging plan to instigate major reforms after the Scottish Government took on direct oversight of the authority last year.

The board of NHS Forth Valley met today for the first time since being put into special measures by the Scottish Government.

Nearly half of all patients attending Forth Valley Royal Hospital's emergency department last month had to wait longer than the target four hours to be treated, members of the NHS health board have heard.

Construction work has started on a new ward at Forth Valley Royal Hospital that will reduce waiting times for patients who need hip or knee surgery.

A report has found measures in place to protect adults in Falkirk from self harming are "robust and responsive".

Staff absences and patients not turning up for appointments have had a big impact on Forth Valley Royal Hospital services including ultrasound, CT scans and endoscopy.

Local people across Forth Valley are being asked for their ongoing understanding, patience and support by health bosses as GP and other primary care services come under increasing pressure due to an increase in Covid-19 related staff absences.

Forth Valley health board are to postpone some non-urgent operations over the coming weeks as it aims to reduce the pressures on services caused by the Omicron variant.

Get the latest Falkirk news sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletterThe findings of an investigation into bullying allegations in a hospital’s emergency department were “clearly distressing”, health bosses have said.The review of Forth Valley Royal Hospital’s frontline operations uncovered a culture of bullying and cover-ups as under pressure staff feared raising concerns.At a special meeting of NHS Forth Valley Board its chief executive Cathie Cowan described its findings as a distressing read.Falkirk Live is an exciting new title bringing you the latest headlines from Falkirk and beyond.But did you know all the ways you can stay informed with us?We share live news and exclusive scoops every day so make sure you're following

Get the latest Scottish parenting news sent straight to your inbox each week with our newsletter.The region’s top health chief has committed to tackling the region’s shocking mental health service waiting times which see young people in crisis wait more than a year for help.NHS Forth Valley chief executive Cathie Cowan has vowed that the health board was taking action to arrest the poor state of the Child and Adult Mental Health (CAMHS) services in Forth Valley - which have the longest waiting times in the country.In a meeting with MSP Evelyn Tweed she gave a “clear commitment” to do better and improve the wait for support - which sits at 57 weeks according to the most recent report.Statistics for the first three months of this year show