Lack of full-time X-ray service in Nairn not publicised enough?

At the Patients Participation Group AGM last night in the Community and Arts Centre there was quite a lot of discussion on important health care topics. For instance one woman asked: “Are there only certain days of the week where you when you can have an X-ray in Nairn hospital?”

Dr Adrian Baker replied: “There are only four days a week, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday morning between 9.30 and 1.30 and there’s no service on Wednesdays. So that’s the situation and that’s completely out with our control. “ He went on a little later to add: “Ideally we would like two hours a day, seven days a week but we are not in a position to make that decision at the practice, that’s a decision for NHS Highland.”

Newly re-elected Chair, Simon Noble then asked what were the implications for patients. 

Adrian said: “We are open and available and have a X-rays available for 16 hours a week, that’s it. If you have a suspected fracture out with that time then the nearest place is Raigmore.”

Another woman attending the meeting then said: “There is a need to publicise that Adrian. I was caught on that one day. I was at the senior citizens club and somebody fell and one of the group phoned up Nairn and said we have this person that has fallen and needs to be brought in and they said bring her in. The minute she arrived they said oh, you’ve got to go to Raigmore. I think it’s not publicised enough for the patients to understand there isn’t an X-ray there all the time because they actually think there is"

More from last night's Patient's Group meeting when time permits.