Hospital’s NHS and social work link hailed

The new £12million Nairn Town and County Hospital is a shining example of how the NHS and social work must integrate to provide a holistic approach for residents, according to NHS Highland chairman Garry Coutts.

Kevin Woods, director general for health and wellbeing in the Scottish Government and chief executive of NHS Scotland, performed the official opening of the hospital.

Speaking at the opening, Mr Coutts said: “The future has to be about working across the artificial boundaries between primary care and hospital care, the NHS and social work.

“It is care that takes into account all the medical conditions and social circumstances of every person and looks after them holistically.

“It is a system which is preventative, rather than reactive.

“Co-location of services makes it easier for staff working across all these services to get to know each other and their roles so they can look after people better.

“This development is a shining example of the way forward and, as one of the first to be integrated at this level, the pressure is on for the people who work here to deliver to their full potential.”

Dr Woods said: “This integrated hospital and primary care centre embraces a way of working which will improve the quality of care for the whole population.

“Professionals are working side by side making the delivery of a seamless service easier.

“This much makes sense, but I expect that the real benefits will be discovered by the staff here as they get together and start to explore new ways of meeting the health and social care challenges that are facing us.”

The facility is one of the most integrated in the country, bringing social work staff together with community NHS staff, two medical practices, a dental practice and 20 bed in-patient hospital.

The development is a partnership between NHS Highland, the two medical practices, specialist healthcare developer Prime plc and Highland Council.