Orthopaedic surgeon, Grzegorz Sianos, is collaborating with a physiotherapist in NHS Western Isles. They offer video conferencing clinics to patients.
Grzegorz, specialises in hand surgery at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He has teamed up with Innes Morton. Innes is an extended scope practitioner at Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway
Together they provide a remote service that allows patients in the Western Isles to receive their initial assessments via video and avoid travel to mainland Scotland.
Grzegorz, said: “Before, patients in the Western Isles who had specialised and complex hand problems had no option except to travel to Glasgow for an assessment. They then possibly had a return journey for the procedure to be done.
“Now the initial assessment is being done by video link. I can ask questions as well as having access to the National PACS [Picture Archiving and Communications Systems] to view X-rays. We then make a decision about intervention.
“If a patient is offered surgery all pre-operative screening is done in the Western Isles.
“This new way of working has also helped improve waiting times. Patients can be efficiently scheduled for their surgery. Most of the diagnostic as well as non-surgical treatment solutions are ‘on hand’.”
The project is a perfect example of how realistic medicine is striving to best support patients and how we are at the forefront of revolutionising healthcare in Scotland.
The service recently scooped the Innovative Remote and Rural Services Award at the Digital Health and Care Awards.