Professor Jason Leitch, NHS Scotland Clinical Director Of Healthcare Quality and Strategy, met staff at Ninewells Hospital involved in delivering new treatments for COVID-19 which are helping keep vulnerable patients out of hospital.
Professor Leitch learned about the service as part of a visit to NHS Tayside to thank staff for their work over the past two years. Accompanied by NHS Tayside Chief Executive Professor Grant Archibald, Professor Leitch visited the COVID-19 Assessment Area in Ninewells where he met staff involved in the delivery of the new antibody and antiviral treatments. These new treatments in the fight against COVID-19 are available to patients who are most at risk of developing severe disease.
The antibody treatment works to neutralise the virus quickly in the early stages of the disease, meaning people must start their treatment within five days of testing positive. The treatment reduces the risk of hospital admission and more serious health consequences.
NHS Tayside has been at the vanguard of delivering these new therapies, with the first patient receiving treatment on 24 December 2021. Since then, almost 1,300 patients from across Tayside have been referred and assessed by the team, with 339 patients receiving treatment. The benefits of the treatment look to be very significant as none of the vulnerable patients who have received treatment has needed to be admitted to critical care.
NHS Tayside Chief Executive, Professor Grant Archibald, said, “These new COVID treatments are helping protect the most vulnerable people in our communities and have prevented people from being admitted to critical care seriously unwell. Lives have undoubtedly been saved by this service.
“It is an excellent example of multi-disciplinary working, and it has taken a huge effort from pharmacy staff, nursing teams, consultants and GPs to get the service up and running. It is this close collaboration that has enabled so many patients in Tayside to be successfully treated. I would like to thank everyone involved in this ground-breaking service for their dedication and hard work.”
Professor Jason Leitch, said, “What a privilege it has been to visit the high-risk pathway for NHS Tayside patients. I met a lady who, within 24 hours of her diagnosis, was being treated with innovative drugs to stop her progressing to much more severe COVID-19. It has been a pleasure to thank staff and to see the service in action."