NHS Highland and the Highland Council explore options for joining forces in Grantown
Early discussions are taking place between NHS Highland and The Highland Council to look at the potential for building a single purpose built centre in Grantown to accommodate the services currently provided by Ian Charles Hospital, Grant House and the Grantown Health Centre.
Although these are just exploratory discussions staff, residents and members of the community are being informed of this possible opportunity to improve facilities and link health and social care professionals more closely for the benefit of patients, residents and public.
South East Highland Community Health Partnership General Manager Nigel Small said: “There may be a good opportunity to improve care and health services for people in Grantown and the surrounding area. The Council has already committed to the re-provisioning of Grant House and NHS Highland is committed to providing Hospital services in Grantown. It makes sense not to miss an opportunity to explore whether there are any options to put all those services under one roof along with the GP Surgery. We’re just exploring whether there are any practical options especially given how close the current buildings are located. I must stress this is at a very early stage and the local community will be kept fully involved and informed’.”
Area Community Care Manager for the Highland Council, Brian Robertson said: “In keeping with recent Scottish Government announcements, The Highland Council has committed additional resources to support the increased use of telecare and care at home. If we can work together to link these homecare services with a new health and social care facility in Grantown, there is the potential for the Grantown area to be a centre of excellence for joined up working and this could only bring huge benefits for patients, service users and the wider local community. There is a lot of discussion required but we may be at the start of something very exciting.”
The decision to look jointly at the future of health and care provision in Grantown has also been welcomed by Superintendent Physiotherapist and Badenoch and Strathspey Locality Clinical Lead Fiona Grant. She said: “This could be wonderful news for local people. It makes sense to put all of these services under one roof so the organizations that are caring for people are talking to each other regularly. It would lead to more flexible ways of caring for the local population. It is still early days but I am really keen that we explore the potential of this idea.”