A one-stop shop to support the frail and elderly in the north of Skye could be rolled-out across the island.
A four-week trial of the day service is being carried out at Portree Community Service to assess patients and investigate any subsequent support they may need.
They have been referred because they are at risk of falling or have complex health problems.
The service has been assessing patients’ particular health care needs and develop appropriate care plans for them.
If the trial is successful, NHS Highland is keen to expand the concept and the approach to cover a wide range of conditions, and expand it across the island.
Dr Louise Lankston, GP at Portree Medical Centre, said: “The aim of the service is to provide a pro-active planned intervention process where people get the levels of support they need before something happens, allowing them to remain at home with appropriate planned support and to provide timely non-hospitalised interventions.
“There is also an important social aspect of the service which is why we are using the hospital day room. Attendance may be one day a week for two weeks or longer, depending on the individualised treatment plan.
“Health and social care staff already provide a service through their daily huddle meetings which are scheduled telephone conference meetings co-ordinating patient care. The day service complements this.”
If successful, it will cover the whole of North Skye with any health or care professional able to refer patients, including GPs and staff from the Dunvegan and Carbost medical practices.
Roslynne O’Connor, practice manager at Portree Medical Centre, said: “We hope through this trial we can evidence that this service would be of value to the people of North Skye and to provide a blueprint that could be replicated in South Skye and, potentially, in other areas.“