Granny school more than just small talk

By Claire Warrender

A SPECIAL “granny school” which helps prepare people involved in bringing up their grandchildren was among the innovative projects visited by Health Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday.

The initiative at Forth Park Hospital, Kirkcaldy, was set up in response to the increasing number of grandparents who play key roles in children’s lives.

With many mothers going back to work, grandparents often look after babies and young children and the classes give information on new developments in child care.

Community midwife Carol Murray, who runs the project, said it was definitely not a case of teaching grannies to suck eggs.

“In some cases it’s been 20 or 30 years since grandparents last looked after a baby,” she said.

“The most major change in child care over the last few years has been in the advice given to prevent cot death.

“We now put babies down to sleep on their backs and we don’t wrap them up tightly in shawls anymore. Then there’s the anti-smoking message that goes along with that.

“There’s various other things like baby massage which is quite popular now, and I talk about when babies get their jags and baby development.

“From the feedback I have been getting, everybody seems quite happy with the information given out and it seems to be beneficial.”

Carol runs sessions every two or three months with around 10 people taking part in each, although she eventually hopes to make it a monthly class.

Ms Sturgeon also learned more about the complementary therapies in pregnancy service at the hospital, which provides relaxation sessions and parenting advice.

The service, which is carried out by midwife Joan Taylor, combines the traditional midwife experience with therapies such as reflextherapy, massage and aromatherapy.

It is believed the treatment can help in a number of ways to alleviate the pressures of pregnancy, such as morning sickness, breast feeding problems and stress.

In addition, the health minister heard about the help offered to mothers who take drugs throughout their pregnancy.

Started in 2001, midwives and health visitors work with drugs workers, social workers and GPs to ensure drug users are looked after from early pregnancy.

The aim is to prevent harm to unborn babies and minimise the terrible withdrawal symptoms seen in youngsters born to drug addicts.

Ms Sturgeon described the projects at Forth Park as “great examples of how health boards are developing innovative new ways of working.”

She added, “These services are responding to the challenges of providing 21st century healthcare and are the kind of projects I want to see more of in our NHS.

“They are taking a holistic view and that has to be commended.”

Later, Ms Sturgeon chaired the NHS Fife annual review which she said should tackle tough issues, scrutinise local performance and drive forward further improvement, as well as give credit where it was due to NHS staff.

“It is right that those who manage our NHS boards are held to account in public,” she said.

“These meetings provide opportunities to question the key decision-makers who are delivering health services in local communities.

“I think Fife has done a lot of good work but there are challenges, particularly around the waiting times issue and the redesign of services which has proved controversial.”