Dave Thompson MSP

Highlands and Islands MSP Dave Thompson has urged NHS Highland to enhance resources available to the area's main arthritis treatment and therapy centre, which is currently part of a Highland-wide review of services.

Although NHS managers are considering a possible change to reduce the opening hours at the Highland Rheumatology Unit at Ross Memorial Hospital in Dingwall from the current seven-day 24-hour service to close at weekends or to reduce the number of beds in the busy unit.

Mr Thompson was briefed on the progress of the review when he visited the centre on Monday morning to see for himself what the demand for the service was.

After seeing how much the centre means to the care of patients from all over the north of Scotland, Mr Thompson called on NHS Highland to ensure the centre, the only one of its type in the Highlands, is awarded the funds it needs to provide the level of service required by the area.

"On my fact-finding trip I met patients from all over the Highlands and was very impressed by the level of care they were offered," the SNP politician said.

"During this visit, I learned of an ongoing review of the service and I would hope this leads to more and better resources to be provided for the development of this extremely important facility. It is clearly valued by those who rely on it and is immensely valuable to the population of the Highlands and so needs to be developed rather than reduced."

This is the only facility in the Highlands where patients with severe and active arthritis can be admitted for intensive specialist care to control their arthritis.

After visiting the NHS Highland Rheumatology Unit in Dingwall, Mr Thompson took the opportunity to visit the Puffin Pool next door, a charity-funded facility which offers medical staff the opportunity to deliver hydrotherapy treatments for adult and child patients in a relaxed and friendly centre.

"This is also a fantastic facility and I have been very impressed with what is on offer here beside the rheumatology centre," Mr Thompson added.

Mr Thompson was welcomed to the centre by Dr Malcolm Steven, NHS Highland's consultant rheumatologist, who impressed upon the politician the positive work done at the centre.

Notes:

THE Highland Rheumatology Unit at Ross Memorial Hospital in Dingwall treats an estimated 300 patients with recently-diagnosed arthritis or whose condition has been affected by a severe flare-up. in Dingwall they are offered education in self-care and intensive physiotherapy, while the neighbouring Puffin Pool allows for the provision of hydrotherapy treatments.

The Puffin Poll opened in 1996 following an eight-year fundraising campaign. In an acclaimed collaboration between the charity, Highland Council and NHS Highland, the facility provides specialist assessment and treatment to patients at the Highland Rheumatology Unit and disabled members of the Highland community.

Last year its running costs were met by continued fundraising, donations and a profit of more than £33,000 raised by charity shops.

Following Mr Thompson's visit on Monday (Nov 30) Alison Phimister, NHS Highland's locality manager for Skye, Lochalsh, Ross, Cromarty and West Ness, explained that a Highland-wide review of rheumatology services was underway.

A spokesman for NHS Highland explained: "It has shown that recent changes in treatments available and the requirement for early intervention and treatment by specialists necessitated a review of the provision of services, including those for inpatients. This also fits in with the wider strategy of providing care closer to home and on an out-patient basis where possible and the need to ensure best value for money.

Ms Phimister added: “A number of options are being considered and we are undertaking a risk assessment of all the options.

“One of the these is that rheumatology services provided at the Ross Memorial Hospital in Dingwall could be changed from a seven-day to a five-day service, with the ward bring closed at weekends to free up capacity, which can be used to provide care in a different way. Another possibility is to retain the seven-day service and reduce the number of beds.

“We welcome the input that patients have had to workshops and planning groups and both options will be considered by a multi-disciplinary team before any decision is made.

There are currently 14 beds in the Rheumatology Ward at the Ross Memorial Hospital. Ms Phimister added that NHS Highland was working towards the reduction of emergency admissions, occupied bed days and increasing the number of day-case procedures aimed at delivering patient care in ways that are better for patients and more cost-effective.

In keeping with these plans, NHS Highland is also reviewing its elective, or planned, services and this includes the Highland Rheumatology services.