Brora in Sutherland Medical and Healthcare Services

Also see our extensive Village file and listing of Local Organizations

By Keith A. Forbes, disabled Brora resident, at keithaforbes@btinternet.com.  He also writes about Ashcroft Market Garden for healthy, Brora home-produced, fresh food and vegetables; the county of Sutherland; and writes /is the webmaster of/ the 128+ webfiles of Bermuda Online.

A layman's perspective of  Brora's Medical and Healthcare facilities and services. Written in the absence of similar information available anywhere else in Brora or Sutherland, in the hope it will help present and future locals to know more about the very good services available locally from NHS Scotland's groups. Much appreciated are any further suggestions or improvements. Please by by email only as I'm one-armed only in writing (right armed, but left handed, so very clumsy in writing), but can use my keyboard one-handed to cut and paste or edit files.

Brora & Helmsdale Medical Practice

Sometimes referred to as the Helmsdale and Brora Medical Practice.  01408 621320 for emergencies. For appointments 01408 621535. Fax 01408 621535. Station Square, Brora KW9 6QJ. Part of National Health Service (NHS) Highland. A GP practice in the North Highland (Sutherland & Caithness) Community Health Partnership. By appointment Monday to Friday, 9 am-11 am, plus Monday 3:30 pm-5:30 pm, Tuesday 3-4 pm, Thursday-Friday 3-5 pm With three GPs, Drs Monica Main, Andrew Chase and Alan Woodall. Also with a practice nurse and more. For out-of-hours service call NHS 24 at 08454 24 24 24. In June 2005, Dr. Monica Main,  MB, ChB, DRCOG, MRCGP became the Queen's Lord-Lieutenant for Sutherland following the retirement of Major-General David Houston CBE. She is a graduate of Aberdeen University and was a Medical Officer, from 1979 to 1980, and a General Practitioner, from 1981 to 1985, in Inverness. Dr Main is married to William Main, the Brora community pharmacist. 

•  Also in Helmsdale at The Medical Centre, Rockview Place, Helmsdale KW8 6LF. 01431 821225. 16.5 km north of Brora.

Brora and Helmsdale Patient-Practice Participation Group (PPG) 

A new (from April 2008) community health initiative. One of the two North Highland (Sutherland & Caithness) Community Health Partnership (CHP) -suggested ways to get involved at local level  - the other is the Highland HealthVOICES Network (NHS Highland Public Partnership Forum).

Now being formulated. Dr. Alan Woodall has recommended it would not be independent of the Brora and Helmsdale Medical Practice, instead it would serve to better facilitate communication between the practice and patient representatives about issues that arise - in a bidirectional way - so that the practice can better serve patient needs and also to raise issues for the practice and get input (and support). The PPG can help the practice (and improve care for patients),  in various ways, for example, some will be shocked to hear of many appointments pre-booked by patients but who do not turn up - equivalent to several days of GP work missed - which puts other responsible patients in difficulties when they cannot be offered an appointment. This obviously impacts on the GPs' ability to provide care. What can the PPG suggest on how it would like the practice to deal with 'offenders? It will have representatives from both the practice and the its patient-list of the public serving on the group, with a GP or Practice Manager in attendance to liaise, but otherwise it is envisaged it will be 'hands off' and have members agree how to run it, how to set up and attract representatives in the future. It would be good to get a range of representation - eg age/sex/location/health needs. Perhaps it will be possible for a joint practice/PPG general information newsletter to be published and circulated appropriately, probably quarterly initially.

Dr. Woodall spoke about the PPG at both the Brora Community Council (on 15th April 2008) and Helmsdale Community Council (2nd May) and at the Lawson League of Friends asking for people to put names forward as representatives. From 14th May 2008, notices will appear in both medical practices asking for people to put themselves forward as volunteers (they will be asked to sign a form) and then when there are 10-12 interested an initial meeting can be arranged

PPGs refer to patients taking an active interest in their health care. Their priorities are developed and agreed locally in order to meet local needs and to reflect the interests and energies of the participants. Patients and primary care professionals support each other in promoting the patient and public interest. PPGs are not legally required but have developed on the basis of trust and goodwill from practices and patients alike. Nonetheless, the GP contract does include an incentive payment for practices to set up a PPG. This has led to a major growth in the number of PPGs and the National Association for Patient Participation (NAPP) would like to see this increase in quantity matched by increases in quality.

Of considerable interest is the Age Concern Scotland's (ACS) new Hospital Patient Survey form. It seems to be very well done and includes something particularly important to those unable to use utensils when eating from a hospital bed. There are questions on the kind of help given at the hospital and by whom on unwrapping food, cutting food, removing bottle tops, placing food on spoon or fork, assistance with eating, etc. On this general theme, particularly nice comments have been received from Brora folks re the much better food and help with it they had at Lawson Hospital in Golspie (6 miles south of Brora) than at Raigmore where they were earlier.

Dentist, NHS

Golspie Dental Clinic, Lawson Memorial Hospital, Sutherland KW10 6SS, North Highland. Phone 01408 633157

East Sutherland Community Care Forum (ESCCF)

Part of the Highland Community Care Forum (HCCF)

Highland Community Care Forum (HCCF)

e-mail: KStephen@hccf.org.uk. The remit includes Brora. One of its forums includes East Sutherland Community Care Forum

Highland HealthVOICES Network  

The NHS Public Partnership Forum (PPF) for an area that includes Brora, well-run and administered. Presently with about 240 members from all parts of the Highlands. If you too would like to get involved in this absorbing network of information, news and volunteering or other opportunities in our National Health Service  you'll be most welcome. Its Steering Group meets in Inverness every two months, with the next on 30th May, 2008. Steering Committee members now also include this Brora-based author. He has one copy of the 125-page "Final Report February 2008 on Public Partnership Forums: what direction and support is needed for the future." For those who would like to peruse it at his home, please contact him at 01408 622923.

Lawson Memorial Hospital

Station Road, Golspie KW10 6SS, 01408 664029/043. Six miles from Brora.  North Highland region. National Health Service. Community Minor Unit. It developed from an original cottage hospital. X-ray and dental facilities. Huge local asset to the health and well-being of all, especially the over 50s and elderly who have had extensive physiotherapy and other treatment here after strokes and heart problems. It's Cambusavie Unit is very valuable. Recent patients there have praised the hospital generally for its individual attention to its patients, its convenience compared to Raigmore and its higher standard of its food than at Raigmore.

League of Friends of Lawson Memorial Hospital  

Tigh Fada, Golf Road , Brora. Isobel Clarkson

Migdale Hospital

Matheson Road, Bonar Bridge, Sutherland IV24 3AG. Phone 01863 766211. National Health Service. North Highland region. Elderly patients with special needs and services for younger people with long-term conditions. After years of delay and inaction, a new £10 million community hospital has finally been scheduled for completion in 2012 to replace the current one, at a new location, on a 0.6 hectare of land lot to the north of Cherry Grove, Bonar Bridge, with access from Dornoch Road through Cherry Grove, if NHS Highland will be in a position to purchase the site in April 2009 for £150,000, as determined by the district valuer, as planned and if planning permission is given. It will have 24 beds, 10 fewer than at present and will continue to provide specialist treatment for the elderly, dementia sufferers and people with mental illness. A Migdale Action Group was established a number of years ago

National Health Service (NHS) Scotland - Highland

Brora GPs are part of this. NHS Highland comprises the largest and most sparsely populated part of the UK, with a mountainous terrain, rugged coastline and populated islands. The area covers 32,518 km², around 41% of Scotland. NHS Highland leads the way in meeting the challenges of providing efficient and effective health care services to a remote and rural region. All hospitals and doctors in our region are NHS Highland.

North Highland (Sutherland & Caithness) Community Health Partnership (CHP)

Other than the doctors and staff from the Brora and Helmsdale Medical Practice no one from Brora currently serves on it but this may change in the foreseeable future.  

It is the relevant regional body of the NHS. Community Health Partnerships (CHPs). It puts the needs of patients and local communities first, and empowers those who provide care to deliver service improvements through changes in the way skills and resources are deployed. CHPs systematically involve patients and members of the public as partners in improving the health of local communities. It is hoped that by working together professionals and staff will be able to improve access to services, increase quality of care and manage waiting times more effectively. CHPs systematically involve patients and members of the public as partners in improving the health of local communities. CHPs utilize the combined expertise of its workforce to improve services and they will ensure that staff are full partners in decisions that affect the quality of services, by devolving decision making and resources, enable professionals and staff to develop innovative approaches to the delivery of care, promote continuous learning and new ways of working.

The next North CHP meeting will be in the Marine Hotel, Brora at 2pm on Tuesday, 17th June, 2008.  

NHS Breast Screening Programme

Brora GPs are involved with this. Breast screening is a method of detecting breast cancer at a very early stage. The first step involves an x-ray of each breast - a mammogram - which is taken while carefully compressing the breast. Most women find it a bit uncomfortable and a few find it painful. The mammogram can detect small changes in breast tissue which may indicate cancers which are too small to be felt either by the woman herself or by a doctor. The NHS Breast Screening Programme provides free breast screening every three years for all women in the UK aged 50 and over. Around one-and-a-half million women are screened in the UK each year. Women aged between 50 and 70 are now routinely invited. Because the programme is a rolling one which invites women from GP practices in turn, not every woman will receive an invitation as soon as she is 50. But she will receive her first invitation before her 53rd birthday. Once women reach the upper age limit for routine invitations for breast screening, they are encouraged to make their own appointment

Raigmore Hospital

Old Perth Road, Raigmore, Inverness, Inverness-shire IV2 3UJ. Telephone 01463 704000. National Health Service. North Highland region. 

Huge A&E and acute general hospital 60 miles south of Brora. Handles most emergency scenarios, with exceptions including replacement of stents. For treatment and operations, the policy appears to be that those who live furthest away get treated first, which is very commendable. Raigmore scores 90 points out of 100 for the courtesy, professionalism and competence of its medical staff.

Current visiting times are afternoons 1500 to 1700, evenings 1800 to 2000. Proposed are afternoons 1400 to 1600 and evenings 1900 to 2000, or 1830 to 2030, or 1900 to 2030. Facilities and services have been continually enhanced over the years and further development is planned. The initial phase of Raigmore opened in 1970 and comprises a wing containing Laboratory services, Medical Physics, Radiology and Radiotherapy Departments, Out-Patient Departments, Paramedical Services, Medical Records Department and Emergency Department. In addition, there is a ward block of 8 floors. These include teaching facilities, a theatre Suite of nine Operating Theatres, a six bed Intensive Care Unit, a 4 bed Coronary Care Unit, a Maternity Unit, Chest/Control of Infection Unit and a Renal Unit, all of which are serviced by comprehensive support services. Raigmore Hospital is a clinical teaching centre, providing the University of Aberdeen’s (UOA) second undergraduate medical teaching site. Plans are underway to establish an academic teaching and research unit (the Highlands and Islands Research Institute) on site jointly with UOA. The North of Scotland Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and the University of Stirling department of nursing and midwifery (Highland Campus) are also based here.

Raigmore Hospital Patients' Council

Raigmore Hospital, Inverness IV2 3UJ. 01463 706368, fax 01463 711322. Formed 3rd March 1999. Meets 1st Tuesday each month at Raigmore. Email raigmore@thehpc.org.uk 

Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS)

North District, from Wick to Inverness. Critically important Emergency Life Saving ambulances. Also with some patient-to-hospital transport (Scottish Ambulance Non-Emergency Service). Have invited SAS to supply further details of their services relevant to Brora. When received will post them here. Currently, Brora is not one of the places with First Responders.

Scottish Health Council (SHC)

Established in April 2005 to ensure that the views of patients, carers and the public are properly taken into account by the NHS. In order to monitor whether this involvement results in better and more responsive service for patients, all NHS Boards in Scotland (including Special Health Boards) are required to complete an annual Patient Focus and Public Involvement self assessment. A most interesting presentation was made to the Brora Community Council (BCC) on 15th April by Allison Meek of the SHC. She recommended a Brora patient participation group (PPG), one that could be supported by the Brora & Helmsdale GP surgery; that the BCC appoint a health spokesperson from among its members; that its members might wish to become members of the Highland Health Voices Network, etc; and that the next North CHP meeting would be on 17th June at the Marine Hotel at 2 pm.

Sutherland

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By Keith A. Forbes, at keithaforbes@btinternet.com. 
© 2007. Revised: May 13, 2008