MP Roger Mullin has been impressed by problem solving techniques being employed at the acute hospital base for the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area, the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

Dr Saleyha Ahsan from the BBC’s, “Trust me I’m a Doctor,” joined Roger Mullin, MP for the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency; David Torrance, MSP for the Kirkcaldy constituency; and Health Secretary Shona Robison to find out more about innovations and approaches to problem-solving taking place at the Vic.

The group visited the Minor Injury Service, AU1 Frailty Service and the Emergency Care Ambulatory Service.

Dr Ahsan, who produces and fronts her TV show while working as an A&E doctor in North Wales’s Bangor Hospital, trained as a medic in Dundee and completed part of her training at the Victoria. She has worked in war-torn areas as a medic and journalist, and holds a Masters degree in International Humanitarian law.

After the visit, Dr Ahsan commended the Victoria’s “joined-up” thinking: “Coming back to visit the Victoria Hospital was an absolute honour and a privilege, as a Dundee graduate and as someone who trained here.

"I was very grateful to Roger Mullin for setting up this visit and was impressed by the team at the Victoria, who are working collaboratively and with such initiative to problem-solve many of the issues the NHS is facing all across the UK.

“It is refreshing to learn of their approach, joined-up thinking and patient focus strategies. I am a junior doctor working in Wales, and yet here I was on a visit set up by an SNP politician, accompanying Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Health. I don’t think this kind of approach has been replicated in England, hence my belief that the right leadership is core to solving the NHS crisis.”

The group also met with Chief Operating Officer Professor Scott McLean, Consultant Acute Physician Dr Chris McKenna, and Acute Division General Manager Val Hatch.

Professor McLean said: “It was a privilege to welcome Dr Ahsan and the Cabinet Secretary to the Victoria to share some of the good work being done by the teams in our hospital. Dr Ahsan is a high-profile and much-respected figure, and for her to show an interest in what we are doing in Fife is a great compliment.”

Roger Mullin MP said: “It was a real pleasure to meet with Dr Ahsan and the Cabinet Secretary, and of course the team at the Victoria. I was deeply impressed by the work being done in such areas as screening for frailty when patients are admitted.

“I would like to pay tribute to the vital contributions made by the vast range of staff who keep the hospital running, from doctors, nurses and paramedics to administrative staff, support workers and many others.

“I also welcome the recent report by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate, which recognised the ‘overall cleanliness’ at the hospital.”

Health Secretary, Shona Robison said: “It was great to meet Dr Ahsan and hear about her time working at Victoria Hospital.

“It was also fantastic to hear from the staff at Victoria Hospital about how they are working to improve care for patients across the hospital and continuing to be at the forefront of innovation, particularly around frailty and front door assessment.”