SNP government breathes new life into Scotland’s rural hospitals

Minister says people in Highlands and islands have been living with uncertainty in NHS for too long

By Cameron Brooks

Published:

The long-term future of six rural general hospitals in the Highlands and islands has been secured, it will be announced today.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon will reveal that “standardising and enhancing” core services signals the end of uncertainty for the six hospitals.

They are Gilbert Bain Hospital at Lerwick; Caithness General Hospital at Wick; Balfour Hospital at Kirkwall; Western Isles Hospital at Stornoway; Belford Hospital at Fort William; and Lorn and the Isles Hospital at Oban.

Services that will be soon be available at all of the hospitals include routine and emergency surgery, maternity care led by midwives, initial treatment for broken bones and care for stroke victims.

Ms Sturgeon, who will make the announcement at a rural healthcare conference at Aviemore, will say that while some people will still have to travel to hospitals in cities like Aberdeen and Inverness for some treatment, more people will be able to access healthcare locally.

The Scottish Government has invested around £1.3million in enhancing the skills of community medical staff.

A new generation of “hybrid” GPs will be given specialist training so they can work in hospitals in addition to performing their normal duties in surgeries.

Some £245,000 is to be invested in a pilot scheme, due to get under way in August in the Fort William area, where two GPs are being hired.

A similar £100,000 scheme will develop the skills of staff at Balfour Hospital.

Some £300,000 has been invested in “up-skilling” staff in Argyll and Bute.

Ministers are encouraging other health boards throughout the country to apply for funding to provide additional training for staff and wants them to consider using existing cash if possible.

Ms Sturgeon will say that ministers are committed to ensuring that as much medical treatment is available as locally as possible.

Ms Sturgeon will explain that the changes being made to standardise services will ensure patients know what services are available in all smaller hospitals.

She will hail the move as “a blueprint to secure the future of rural hospitals because a lot of uncertainty has been hanging over their future for a long time now”.

The minister will also say: “Some hospitals already provide some of these services – but for many of them it will mean enhanced services.

“I am confident this approach will help secure first-class service and ensure that everyone in Scotland enjoys equal access to the NHS, no matter where they live.”

Ms Sturgeon, who spent yesterday touring medical facilities in Wester Ross, said the action plan would be rolled out using existing NHS area board budgets.

Ministers have allocated the 14 area boards £525million in capital funding over the next three years.

Other local and community hospitals in remote and rural areas will soon be offering more services, including outpatient clinics, day-case treatment, midwifery services and treatment for minor injuries and emergencies.

Examples of capital investment include a new 24-bed community hospital to be built at Bonar Bridge and funded through NHS Highland’s £18.5million capital funding allocation.

Chalmers Hospital at Banff is being refurbished by NHS Grampian using part of its £29.3million allocation.

Another measure is the Emergency Medical Retrieval Service. It will fly specialist consultants to provide on-site resuscitation and transfer for patients with life-threatening injuries or illness in remote and rural hospitals. The government will spend £154,000 on a pilot scheme, which will start in June and run until November next year.