NHS Grampian chiefs have welcomed increased efforts at Moray’s biggest hospital to prevent patients from having to travel to Aberdeen for treatment.
The health board met in Elgin yesterday, and heard how staff at Dr Gray’s Hospital were being taught skills that would minimise the need for people to travel to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for certain procedures.
Representatives from the hospital in Elgin said they had come up with “innovative solutions” to spare ill patients the journey following the death of a patient.
Members heard that a man, referred to only as Mark, died of pneumonia while under the care of Dr Gray’s in 2013.
During an investigation into his death Mark’s family raised complaints after learning he had been ferried to and from Aberdeen to have an intravenous device fitted.
Though his death was unrelated, the family felt he had been made to endure unnecessary stress in his final days.
Divisional lead nurse Linda Oldroyd said: “Mark was originally admitted to Dr Gray’s with a hip fracture, but after the joint became infected he was placed on long-term antibiotics that required a catheter being fitted.
“The particular procedure was not carried out at Dr Gray’s so he was taken to Aberdeen.”
She added: “Mark’s story has resulted in a number of changes, and patients no longer need to travel back and forth to Aberdeen for the insertion of lines.”
Staff at Dr Gray’s have now been instructed on how to insert mid-lines, which help patients receive intravenous therapy.
Board member Jonathan Passmore added: “The root of this is the inconvenience of the journey, and the answer is the use of innovative solutions to reduce the amount of journeys required.
“This has a huge impact for patients and their families.”
Moray Council leader Stewart Cree, who is also a member of the NHS Grampian board, said having health chiefs visit Elgin for the summit served as a reminder of the distance patients have to travel.
Mr Cree said: “Anything that doesn’t aggravate the discomfort people are already suffering should be welcomed, and now we just need to expand on that.
“Having many board members travel from Aberdeen to Elgin for the meeting was a wonderful reminder of what it means on a daily basis for patients here going that same
distance.”
Following the meeting health bosses were shown around Dr Gray’s Hospital and the Turner Memorial Hospital in Keith.