Moray minor injuries units to remain closed
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THERE are no plans to reopen the minor injuries unit or X-ray department at Seafield and Turner Memorial Hospitals in Buckie and Keith, it has been revealed.
The news comes following Moray Council's recent corporate committee meeting during which Councillor Tim Eagle (Buckie, Conservative) asked for an update on the re-opening of these units in community hospitals in the region.
These units were closed during the initial phase of Covid and concerns are being raised that this is forcing more people onto A&E in Elgin and a significant cost for travel from outlying areas.
Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Eagle said: “I have been contacted by both members of the public and health professionals on their concerns over the continued closure of minor injuries units and regional X-ray centres across Moray.
"My understanding is that all minor injuries units are still shut and the local x-ray department in Keith and Buckie also remain shut.
"Minor injuries departments are a vital local resource with nursing professionals specifically trained to help staff these departments through our community hospitals. They offer fantastic local care which helps alleviate pressure on A&E departments.
"The council recognises both the climate emergency and the rising costs of living at the moment, we also have in place a commitment to 15-minute neighbourhoods yet there is no discussion at all about re-opening these units.
"That worries me, is there perhaps a plan to close them?
"Regional X-ray units were used regularly by GPs to save pressure on the central resources and again allowed for local care, it would make sense that these benefited the system and with high waiting times just now I would have imagined we should be trying to reopen them rather than have equipment unused, but again there is limited discussion on this.
"I am calling for these units to be re-opened as soon as possible and have asked for an update on what is going on to be provided to all councillors.
"Hopefully this will give us a clear timeline to move forward with.
"I continue to be grateful to all our wonderful NHS staff for the hard work they are putting in but given some staff themselves have approached me over this it is about time we started talking about it, before it is to late."
A spokeswoman for Health and Social Care Moray confirmed that there were no immediate plans to reopen either minor injuries or X-ray units.
She continued: “At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, all minor injury units across Moray were closed and patients redirected to Dr Gray's Hospital Emergency Department.
"This reduced footfall into healthcare settings and freed up staff to care for patients where they were most needed.
"There are no immediate plans to reopen minor injuries units. This remains under review across NHS Grampian, as does the reopening of radiology facilities.
"NHS Scotland’s Right Care, Right Place model launched in December 2020 to support people to stay safe and well by accessing the right care for their needs and keep Emergency Departments free for critical emergencies.
"Patients are guided to a range of services which can be accessed quickly and closer to home, including the NHS Inform website, community pharmacies, their GP or NHS 24 on 111.”
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead challenged NHS Grampian to come up with a "clear action plan" for the future of the affected units. He has already written to the chief executive of NHS Grampian on the issue.
Mr Lochhead said: “These local services and facilities are much valued by their local communities and have long ensured people are able to access care close to home.
“The local community understood the challenges created by the pandemic and the decision to close the units on a temporary basis.
“NHS Grampian must now give the a clear action plan for these units and their future role in the delivery of healthcare in Moray.”
