Highland patients will be able to receive specialist bowel assessments closer to home after a £37,340 donation brought new diagnostic equipment to NHS Highland for the first time.
Friends of Raigmore Hospital funded the portable bowel function assessment equipment, which will be used by the colorectal service at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and during outreach clinics in Wick and Fort William.
The specialist equipment helps clinicians assess how a person’s bowel is functioning and can assist with the diagnosis of conditions including faecal incontinence.
Until now, this type of equipment has not been available within Highland, meaning the new service represents a significant change in how some patients can be assessed.
Its portability means clinicians can take the equipment to outreach clinics rather than requiring every patient to travel to Inverness for specialist assessment.
That will be particularly valuable for older people and those living in remote and rural communities, where attending hospital appointments can involve considerable travelling time.
It should also allow more patients to complete their specialist assessments during a single clinic appointment, reducing the need to return for additional visits.
The assessments give clinicians a clearer understanding of a patient’s condition before deciding on the most appropriate treatment and support.
Miss Angharad Jones, Colorectal Surgeon with NHS Highland, said:
“Having this equipment available in Highland is a significant step forward for the patients we support.
“It will help us carry out specialist assessments more efficiently; giving people quicker access to the care and support they need, closer to home.
“We are extremely grateful to Friends of Raigmore and everyone whose generosity has helped make this possible.”
The £37,340 purchase was made possible through the fundraising work of Friends of Raigmore Hospital and donations from its supporters.
Christina Cameron, Chair of the Friends of Raigmore Hospital, said:
“We are delighted that the effort from our volunteers and the generosity of our supporters will help bring specialist assessment closer to patients’ homes.
“This is a wonderful example of what local fundraising can achieve, and we are extremely grateful to everyone who helped make it possible.”
For patients in communities around Wick and Fort William in particular, bringing portable specialist assessment equipment to local clinics could remove the need for some of the longest journeys to Raigmore.
It also means specialist bowel assessment can become part of NHS Highland’s outreach work rather than being concentrated entirely in Inverness.
Early discussions are particularly important when fundraising for equipment or services that must meet NHS regulations and purchasing requirements.
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Interested in fundraising for a service close to your heart? Please contact NHS Highland Charity at nhsh.charity@nhs.scot
