North Harris nighttime cover

NHS Western Isles is set to hold a public meeting in Tarbert next Tuesday, to discuss the out-of-hours healthcare services in the area.

North Harris GPs have stopped evening and overnight home visits.

A pilot night time scheme has been in place since October for patients registered with North Harris Medical Practice.

Stornoway-based community care nurses with extra training will now be the main visible presence for overnight visits.

The local GP covers 8am to 6pm from Monday to Friday.

North Harris GPs cease after hours cover

19 January 2015

Calls outwith these hours are transferred to NHS24.

North Harris patients requiring a doctor after 6pm are encouraged to attend a GP in the Western Isles hospital in Stornoway.

A GP on duty at the Stornoway hospital would undertake overnight home visits if necessary.

NHS Western Isles medical director, Dr Angus McKellar explained: “There are significant issues in terms of recruitment and retention of medical staff in all remote and rural areas of Scotland, and there are increasing numbers of GPs opting out of providing out-of-hours cover.

“This means that we have needed to consider less traditional models of care, as is the case with many other areas of Scotland. This is the reason for looking at advanced nursing roles and strengthening partnerships with Scottish Ambulance Service staff.”

He added: “Our Community Unscheduled Care Nurses are highly trained health professionals with a wealth of experience.

“I consider that this new service will strengthen and enhance the services provided to Harris patients.

“In particular, it enables the delivery of enhanced healthcare provision to patients within their own homes - that would only previously have been available to hospital inpatients - including, for example, the use of IV antibiotics.”