Robison satisfied with patient info access protocols
Health secretary Shona Robison said she is satisfied with protocols that allow Glasgow doctors to access Rutherglen and Cambuslang patient information.
However, she stopped short of a cast- iron guarantee that the government would never change the arrangement where Rutherglen and Cambuslang patients can still be referred to Glasgow hospitals despite being part of NHS Lanarkshire.
Two weeks ago the Reformer reported that patients in the two towns had reported problems with doctors being unable to access vital information when they were referred to Glasgow hospitals.
It sparked fears once again that patients could eventually be told to attend hospitals in Lanarkshire.
Glasgow regional MSP James Kelly raised the problem with the Scottish Government last week.
He said: “It’s been two-and-a-half years since the fiasco of Rutherglen and Cambuslang patients being moved to NHS Lanarkshire from NHS Glasgow — and it seems there are still serious problems facing local patients.
“If patients are having to travel across Glasgow for medical treatment, the last thing they want is to arrive and be told their GP’s test results aren’t available.
“It’s yet another example of the SNP letting down our NHS. Rutherglen and Cambuslang patients are already facing weeks waiting for appointments, being passed from health board to health board and now they are turning up and doctors cannot get the information they need.”
Responding to the criticism, Ms Robison said: “We believe that all patients should have swift access to the full range of NHS Scotland services they need and we are continuing to drive improvements in patient care and will examine what more can be done.
“We are determined to continue to push up standards. That is why we are committed to working in partnership with NHS staff to deliver the best possible care for the people of Scotland.
“Both NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have assured us that they have IT systems and protocols in place to enable the sharing of relevant patient information including lab results.”
The area became part of NHS Lanarkshire in 2014. The health board insist there are no plans to change what hospitals local patients are sent to.