Talk 24 - Issue 4

Happy birthday Breathing Space!

Break out the balloons and bunting - it's time to say happy 20th birthday to Breathing Space!  Delivered by NHS 24, the mental health service has provided a listening ear for more than 1.5 million calls and 96,000 hours of one-to-one support over the last two decades.   

Breathing Space’s Nation Coordinator, Tony McLaren explains why the service can be a lifeline for those needing support with low mood, depression, or anxiety, 

"For twenty years, Breathing Space has been a beacon of hope for people struggling with their mental health.   

"We are incredibly proud of the difference we've made in supporting individuals and families across Scotland. Our commitment to providing accessible, confidential, and compassionate non-judgmental support remains unwavering, and we look forward to continuing to be a vital resource for many years to come."  

Breathing Space Day takes place annually on the 1st of February to commemorate the launch date of the service. To mark this extra-special anniversary year, a community of interest meeting brought together representatives from more than fourteen mental health organisations to discuss collaboration, share learning, and promote the vital role of mental health support services.  

Further meetings and events, including the installation of more Breathing Space benches and a parliamentary reception, will take place in the coming year to celebrate Breathing Space’s special anniversary.  

• For more information on Breathing Space’s partnership and engagement programme, including information on Breathing space benches, please contact the Breathing Space Co-Ordination Team. 
• Find out more about NHS 24’s Breathing Space service. 
• Download Breathing Space’s 20th anniversary toolkit and campaign assets. 

CivTech Challenge – the use of AI to enable inclusive access to public services 

In collaboration with the Scottish Government, NHS 24 sponsored CivTech Challenge 7.6, which aimed to solve the following challenge question:  

How do we use Artificial Intelligence, data and digital technologies to enable more inclusive access to public services, starting with disabled people? 

What was the outcome of the challenge? 

ConnectingYouNow has developed an online assistant named Heather, which went live and was tested on ALISS (A Local Information System for Scotland). Using AI, Heather allows service users to use text or speech to search for groups, activities and services which promote health and wellbeing across Scotland. The system’s goal is to be accessible to everyone but was designed to be of particular use for those with sight or hearing loss.  

• Find out more about the CivTech Challenge.
• Try accessing services by visiting ALISS. 

QI 24 FUNdamentals Graduation 

Huge congratulations go to NHS 24’s newest graduates of the QI 24 FUNdamentals programme, who were recently presented with their awards at a ceremony in the Golden Jubilee. Pictured above is Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Workforce Dr Jacqui Hepburn and recent graduate Kieran Rhodes, who is a Call Handler in Dundee.

QI 24 FUNdamentals is delivered every year by NHS 24’s Quality Improvement and Evaluation (QI&E) Team. Open to all staff, and designed to equip participants with the necessary skills, knowledge, and confidence to improve the quality of care at NHS 24, participants are coached by NHS 24 QI&E leads on QI approaches. Participants then take on a QI project within their own specialised area of service improvement.  

• Contact NHS 24’s Quality Improvement and Evaluation Team to find out more about QI 24 FUNdamentals 
• Follow NHS 24’s Quality Improvement and Evaluation Team on X (Twitter).  

Current campaigns promoted by NHS 24

NHS 24’s spring health campaign - ‘Healthy Know How.’ 

Need some tips on how to stay healthy as the season moves into spring? NHS 24’s ‘Healthy Know How’ campaign shares advice on how to remain healthy as the weather (hopefully!) warms up. The campaign promotes info on how to be prepared for common illnesses and ailments at home, encourages the use of digital resources to get trusted health advice, and reminds the public to check that they have enough prescription medication to last over any public holidays.

• Visit the ‘Healthy Know How’ campaign page on NHS inform 
• Download the campaign toolkit and resources 

Quit Your Way – NHS 24’s smoking cessation service 

Quit Your Way Scotland is an advice and support service for anyone trying to stop smoking in Scotland. Run by NHS 24 on behalf of the Scottish Government, the service is staffed by trained advisors who can give personalised advice to anyone who wishes to stop smoking.  

PHS (Public Health Scotland) has worked in collaboration with NHS 24 and other health boards to promote Quit Your Way in its Stop Smoking campaign. A social media toolkit with resources is available to download at PHS’ campaign resource centre. 

• Find out more about Quit Your Way 

NHS Scotland’s ‘It’s OK to Ask’ campaign 

Empowering patients to take an active role in their healthcare journey, ‘It’s OK to Ask’ is an NHS Scotland campaign which provides guidance on how to ask questions during any consultations or conversations about health and care. The campaign aims to make patients more involved and informed on the treatment options available to them. 

• Visit the ‘It’s OK to Ask’ campaign page on NHS inform 
• Download the campaign toolkit and resources