Thurso to keep physio service
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AN assurance was given this week about the future of the physiotherapy department at the Dunbar Hospital in Thurso.
North Highland Community Health Partnership general manager Sheena Macleod told members at a meeting in Wick on Tuesday the unit will not be closed and moved to Caithness General.
She said the existing building at the Dunbar is “not fit for purpose” and pointed out that a risk assessment has been undertaken.
It found that there is “no significant risk” to patients and staff in the short term but stressed that in the long term it is expected the building will have to be demolished. Mrs Macleod said: “Systems are in place to continuously monitor the structure of the building until an alternative location for the physiotherapy department is identified and agreed.”
She pointed out that current unit was 40 years old but was only designed to last for 20 years.
“There needs to be a physiotherapy service within the Thurso area. This is not a question of closing the unit and moving it to Caithness General in Wick but we need to find a solution to the problem,” she added.
As previously reported, the North Highland CHP is considering moving the physiotherapy unit to the X-ray department at the Dunbar to offer patients an improved service.
But the plan envisages X-ray examinations at the Dunbar being transferred to Caithness General in Wick.
That proposal emerged after the physiotherapy gym at the Dunbar was found to be unsuitable for the treatment of patients due to the poor fabric and layout of the building. A number of building issues were also found, the most serious of which related to subsidence.
It was pointed out that underpinning the building to rectify the problem would cost more than £150,000.
More than 1100 patients a year currently receive physiotherapy at the Dunbar with 700 X-ray examinations also being carried out at the facility annually.
Mrs Macleod also reported that it is intended to reinstate low-risk inductions at Caithness General in January next year.
She said the plan has to be ratified by the NHS Highland Maternity Services Strategy and Co-ordination Group which meets next month.
She added: “The intention is to reinstate the service by January 2012 when the newly-recruited midwives will be in post... and able to support the induction of labour service for low-risk women.”
