Roger Gibbins, NHS Highland Chief Executive said
“With the population ageing because people are living longer, the NHS is spending more and more time caring for people with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart conditions and asthma. While it is recognised that these conditions can’t be cured, we can certainly help them live fuller, active lives by controlling them better. By providing health care locally, not only are we helping our patients, but also their families who will not have to travel such long distances.”
Partly in recognition of this thinking the Belford Hospital is becoming a Rural General
Hospital. This was a concept that was developed through the work of the West
Highland Solutions Group. The definition of the term Rural General Hospital (RGH)
is contained within the Kerr Report which says:
“A hospital sited in an area distant from urban conurbations, which because of
compromised patient travel times provides a locally based consultant led service to meet the healthcare needs of a population not large enough to require a district
general hospital.”
This concept of a Rural General Hospital was endorsed by the Minister for Health
Andy Kerr and the North of Scotland Planning Group has been given the task of
leading on the remote and rural aspects of health care in Scotland. Working groups
have been set up to progress this and one in particular will lead on the Rural General
Hospital to define the role and function of an RGH and develop and identify links with
specialist services.
A meeting of this group was recently held and included over 20 local clinicians. It was agreed that a further group would now be formed which would include members of the community and other agencies.
Gill McVicar, General Manager of the Mid Highland Community Health Partnership
said:
“This is a tremendous opportunity to build on the excellent services currently
provided, both in the community and in the Belford Hospital. This will help
progress and modernise services in line with the Scottish Executive’s vision
for a health service that is as local as possible, and as specialised as
necessary. The work that will be done by the Working Groups will clearly
define the role and function of the RGH and this will help us to develop our
proposals for a new hospital in Fort William. After all, at the end of the day, our
job is to look after patients and their care must always be our priority"
