Future Medical Provision

29 September 2004

The Community Council recently invited two Health Care Managers from Argyll and Clyde NHS to speak about the proposals for the provision of Health Services  which will form part of the NHS Board’s future clinical strategy. Stephen Whiston from Lochilpead outlined why there was a need for the modernisation and reform of services and infrastructure and what this would mean in terms of facilities available to islanders. While this was light on detail Moira Newiss, a Locality Manager from Oban’s Lorn and the Islands’ Hospital,  answered specific concerns. These centred on the provision of local maternity services, the relative inaccessibility of Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital, whether it would be possible to choose another hospital where you may have relatives in the vicinity, and the losing of medical records and x-rays between Oban and Glasgow. This failure to communicate was a common complaint as more than one person had gone to Glasgow for a clinic without knowing it had been cancelled. The Community Council will submit a formal response to the consultation document and individuals are also encouraged to make their views known to the Health Board.

Also aired at the meeting was the likelihood of losing out of hours cover should Dr MacNicol retire. At the moment he is continuing to cover but a new practitioner may not find it so easy without a lot of family back up. At the moment we are lucky to be covered by the nurse Practitioner but none of this can be taken for granted.