New treatment rooms go live in Badenoch and Strathspey
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
NEW treatment rooms that NHS bosses say are helping to streamline healthcare and making things easier for out-patients will go live in the strath this week.
Patients requiring further tests while receiving out-patient care or following discharge from secondary acute care will now be able to attend these investigation treatment rooms within existing sites.
In the past a patient would have attended a GP practice for the investigation and the result would have returned to the GP, who might not be aware of the rationale for the investigation or have the skills to interpret very specialised investigations.
Stewart MacPherson, associate medical director for NHS Highland explained that the investigations performed in the investigation treatment rooms, which can include blood tests, dressings and a number of other possible tests, are always requested by clinicians working in secondary acute care.
Dr MacPherson said: “Investigation treatment tooms are already well established in Inverness and East Ross. We have now extended them to include Nairn, Mid Ross and Badenoch and Strathspey.
“In terms of our patients it will remain the same in that if there are any follow up results or treatments are required they will be directed to go to a healthcare setting local to them where these can be carried out.
“However, by having these rooms in place any results will now go straight back to the clinician making the decision on these.
“This is far more efficient not only for our patients but also for the staff. It also helps reduce the workload on our GPs and is a much more streamlined service.”
He added: “This is a change in practice for all but they have worked well in Inverness and East Ross and I expect the three areas to be the same. It is hoped we can further extend this in other areas across Highland in the future.”
Blood tests that GPs request will still be performed in the GP surgery and the GP will continue to monitor the results of the tests that have arisen from the GP practice.
