New infusion unit for patients
Patient Barbara Reid with staff at the new unit
A NEW development at a Ross-shire health facility will save patients a trip to Inverness.
The opening of a day case and infusion unit at the Highland Rheumatology Unit at Ross Memorial Hospital in Dingwall will allow patients to receive the treatment locally rather than having to go to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
The development is part of a move to develop a biologic infusion service across Highland following an across-the-board review of the NHS Highland Rheumatology Service.
The review was launched in 2008 in response to new national standards of care, the need to safely administer new drug treatments, known as “biologic treatments”, and to meet new waiting time targets.
A biologic infusion service was established at Belford Hospital in Fort William at the end of last year.
Work on the Dingwall unit has now been completed and the service became operational at the beginning of this month. A formal opening is planned for later in the year.
Mid Highland community health partnership general manager, Gill McVicar, said, “The aim is to provide more locally based services across Highland to minimise the need for patients to travel, to promote early identification of disease and flare and therefore to support early intervention.”
