New Health Board

[WC1]

I see from the Sunday papers that Argyll and Clyde Health Board is no more and that we're now part of Highland. Does anyone know what this will actually mean for patients? In the past we were linked to Glasgow (or Paisley) for specialists, emergencies requiring the air ambulance, etc. What happens now? Do we go to the Raigmore at Inverness? Does anybody know?

[Ranald]

the emergency situation will still be the same.

the southern general has never been in the same health board area as us so being in nhs highland shouldn't affect that situation.

[4th gen Suthen']

Did MaryG not tell us this was going to happen a few months ago? I think she did!

[Mary G]

... though I may have mentioned this in other circles! But thanks anyway for commending my prophetic - almost psychic - powers!

And for my next trick, the lottery numbers this week are ... (keeping quiet on that one!)

Cheers
Mary G

[WC1]

I must have missed all this! And for non-emergency situations Ranald?

[dgraves]

Did MaryG not tell us this was going to happen a few months ago? I think she did!

I read it too, 4th Gen, so it must have been mentioned on here by someone.

[Malky]

Borrowing Malcolm's name for this one as I'm ashamed to say I have never got round to registering with the Forum yet. Sorry - should put it right someday, but for some reason, our PC is always busy......

The Health Board ceased to be on the 31st March 2006. The first Health Board in Scottish history to be de-commisssioned, I believe.

All previous ones (only tiny ones) have been almalgamated whole into other Boards. Argyll & Clyde have been split into two and divided/ carved up (you choose the word). The rough split is: - Paisley, Dumbarton, Greenock etc go to Greater Glasgow and the rest goes to Highland. Of course none of the others had a debt in excess of £30million.

We have been assured that all services will continue as before, no matter whether they are acute or out-patient services WC1, and no we will not be expected to travel to Inverness for surgery or Consultant appointments.
Cross Health-board consultations have always been allowed and the only time we (GP surgeries) will have to ask for prior confirmation will be those specialist appointments that we have always had to get authorised before. We will just have to ask someone in Inverness now instead of someone in Paisley.

I don't think any patients will notice a difference, except for the usual expensive name changes to the 'new parent' Health Boards and all the corporate immage stuff - letter heads, uniforms, badges, Hospital and GP surgery signage etc. Most of the change will only be noticed by the likes of me, at the management end and I've already been inundated with paperwork from Highland advising me of who I now have to send claims, forms, signatures to.

Hope this info helps allay some of the worries.

Marion McDonald

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Did MaryG not tell us this was going to happen a few months ago? I think she did!

I read it too, 4th Gen, so it must have been mentioned on here by someone.

I think it is this thread you guys are referring to:
http://www.kintyreforum.com/viewtopic.p ... =inverness

[ctgrob]

Marion's right-patients won't be affected-only staff!!!