The Friends of Raigmore volunteer group yesterday handed over a new Ophthalmology Camera for the benefit of patients to Raigmore Hospital.
The camera, costing about £37,400, sees the amount raised by the Friends of Raigmore now stand at over a staggering £100,000 since opening their doors five years ago.
Dr Andrew Pyott, a Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Highland hospital said: “It’s an invaluable piece of equipment. It will prove to be such a sufficient way of seeing patients.
“The camera will be able to take pictures of an undilated pupil in 3D and show us the optic nerve at the back of the eye. This allows us to track changes that occur over time allowing us to make management decisions on how to stop people losing vision.”
Christina Cameron, chairwoman of the Friends, said: “It is a way of paying back what my family have received from the hospital over the years – I mean I am in here myself on Wednesday.
“But recognition lies with our very loyal team of volunteers, whether on a monthly or more frequent basis, they keep the shop open.”
NHS Highland estimates that Ophthalmology appointments represent 16% of all outpatient appointments, making the department the busiest outpatient service provided by the health board. In total NHS Highland estimates there are over 30,591 outpatient appointments a year.
Dr Thorfinn Leslie, also based at Raigmore Hospital, said: “The camera allows us to get a virtual glaucoma clinic up and running which is what we needed to do.
“If we get 30 patients to come in and do these tests I can view them over the next few days which allows for me to see twice the number of patients I would normally because we are seeing them virtually.”
Plans are already underway from the Friends of Raigmore to fundraise the acquisition of an orthopaedic bladder scanner for benefit of patients and staff at Raigmore Hospital.
Groups of volunteers sell a variety of items from cards to tea towels within the Friends of Raigmore shop in aid of enhancing the stay of patients in hospital or visiting outpatients.