Ruairidh’s proves he’s top quality

THE latest Highland Quality Approach (HQA) award has gone to someone who goes above and beyond in his role to enhance the care given to patients and improve their quality of life.

Ruairidh Mackinnon is the handyperson co-ordinator for Skye, Lochalsh and South Wester Ross.

Based at Portree Hospital, he was nominated by the North Skye and Raasay community nurses, who said they believe they ‘would not be able to provide the nursing care to patients with long-term conditions and palliative care without Ruairidh’s support and services’.

Ruairidh has been praised for his ‘positive and diligent attitude’ and commended for going ‘above and beyond delivering beds and equipment at very short notice’ which is ‘often late after he finishes work and at weekends’.

The nursing team credit Ruairidh in helping them ‘give patients a better quality of life’ and helping them ‘enhance the care we can give’.

Ruairidh was surprised with his award earlier this month by David Alston, chairman of NHS Highland.

Nominations for the Highland Quality Approach awards are welcome from staff, patients, carers and the public.

The award reflects on an individual or team who has demonstrated actions and behaviour which epitomise everything about the Highland Quality Approach.