Professor Jason Leitch paid tribute to all Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care staff and partners during a visit to Lorn and Islands Hospital, Eadar Glinn Care Home, Lorn Medical Centre and Mull and Iona Medical Group, and Lorn and Oban Healthy Options on Monday, July 4.
National Clinical Director Professor Jason Leitch met with Argyll and Bute HSCP support staff, clinical staff, allied health professionals, senior managers, GPs, clinical teams, and partners across all the sites.
Health and social care representatives spoke about the excellent remote and rural work of the partnership throughout the pandemic, and the exemplary continuing commitment from staff and partners.
Professor Leitch took the opportunity to thank all staff and partners for their dedication and challenges delivering remote and rural health and social care services through the ongoing challenges of the pandemic.
He said: “It has been an enjoyable day and real privilege to have the opportunity to thank staff and partners for the continued delivery of excellent services, and to hear about the efforts and tough times of working in remote and rural health and social care settings and communities. Across Argyll and Bute staff and partners have faced some of the most challenging times in the last couple of years.
“There are excellent developed community partnership services offering a wide range of self-management and health and wellbeing services including a range of modern digital technology tools for patients, their families, and carers.
“The challenges of COVID are ongoing, and I would encourage everyone to get vaccinated to stay safer and thank you so much for everything you are doing and have done.”
Fiona Davies, Argyll and Bute HSCP Chief Officer, accompanied Professor Leitch on his visit to all the sites said: “We were pleased to welcome Professor Jason Leitch to Oban. Jason got the opportunity to meet with a wide range of health and social care staff including Liz Higgins, Associate Director of Nursing, Rebecca Helliwell, Depute Medical Director and Head of Adult Services and Caroline Cherry, Older Adults and Community Hospitals. He recognised the outstanding dedication of staff, and the efforts to continue delivering exceptional remote and rural health and social care services through these unusual times.”