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Local Hospitals ‘Blazing a Trail’

Perth and Kinross Community Health Parternship (CHP) committee recently welcomed a five-year programme to redesign five community hospitals – in Pitlochry, Blairgowrie, Crieff, Auchterarder and Aberfeldy. 

The revamp means that Perth and Kinross could become a national model in its delivery of in-patient care in its network of community hospitals.

•  Out-of-hours admissions and transfers to community hospitals,

•  the provision of out-of-hours minor injury units,

•  in-patients being seen by their own GPs,

•  taking some patients out of the acute hospital system and placing them in community hospitals closer to their homes,

•  using ‘telemedicine’ for certain diagnostic procedures, and improvements to facilities and accommodation in community hospitals

are some of the elements of the programme of redesign and local enhanced service.

Project leader Dr Jim Grant told the committee: “From April 1 we intend to go ahead with the model of care and will evaluate the outcomes.”

Dr Grant explained: “Community hospitals are for patients who are not diagnostically uncertain but who cannot function at home.  In some cases the health of elderly patients gets worse when they are admitted to acute hospitals. 

“We have to find some way better to look after our elderly patients rather than put them in acute hospitals which are not appropriate for them.”

The Community Hospital Model of Care will be evaluated over its trial period, with criteria including improving patients’ environment and choice; improving patients’ dignity, privacy and confidentiality; more effective use of accommodation within community hospitals; and the provision of modern facilities for the 21st century. 

Dr Grant explained that discussions with GPs were on-going over the best way to deliver the redesigned service under the ‘Balance of Care’ agenda.