Chronic pain sufferers in Moray could soon be spared agonising treks to Aberdeen for treatment.
Campaigners for a local base at Elgin’s Dr Gray’s Hospital put their case before NHS representatives during a meeting at Moray College yesterday afternoon.
Despite becoming frustrated by the number of “false dawns” their crusade has encountered, they emerged from the summit encouraged by assurances that the clinic would be up and running by February.
Chronic pain sufferer Chris Bridgeford has led the calls for a clinic to return to Moray since the area lost its specialised service in 2011.
The Forres resident has battled complex neuropathic pain syndrome Allodynia for most of his life.
Mr Bridgeford said: “We have been assured that next February is a firm date for the clinic opening, so we just have to hope that is the case.
“We have been promised no more false dawns.
“It was a very productive meeting, we got a lot more out of it than we thought we would.”
In May, Mr Bridgeford set up the Affa Sair online support group so that fellow sufferers could comfort and educate each other.
Fellow Affa Sair member Jeni Jeynes, who has a number of chronic conditions, said: “It can be a five-hour round trip for people in a lot of pain to get from Elgin to Aberdeen on public transport – just for a 10 minute consultation.”
Professor Alistair Chambers, who is a consultant in pain medicine with NHS Grampian, said meeting with campaigners was “very useful”.
Mr Chambers said: “We accept how important the need for such a clinic in Moray is, and that it is a long way for patients to travel at present.
“Plans are being put in place to restore the clinic here by February.”
Sandy Dustan, general manager at Dr Gray’s, said: “We have agreed that we can support a pain clinic based at Dr Gray’s and are keen to get things going.”
Under the plans discussed, two visiting pain consultants will travel from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to Dr Gray’s Hospital to consult with patients on a regular basis.
NHS Grampian has also agreed to distribute leaflets from the Affa Sair support group throughout its north-east venues.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead has long supported the reinstatement of the clinic, and attended yesterday’s gathering.
Mr Lochhead said: “NHS staff recognised the frustrations of local patients, and we can all take heart that there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.”