The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
NHS Highland rethink hydrotherapy funding
Health: Board withdraws deadline for referrals after outcry
A public outcry over plans to halt NHS funding for a privately run hydrotherapy pool in the grounds of Nairn Hospital has forced a health board rethink.
NHS Highland previously instructed Nairn Healthcare Group to stop taking referrals from July 1 for patients needing use of the facility.
It has now withdrawn the deadline. However, a public meeting about the issue, scheduled for 7pmon Thursday at Nairn Community and Arts Centre, is to go ahead as planned.
In a statement, the health board announced it was establishing a “revised referral process” for the pool involving GPs and physiotherapy staff.
A spokesman said: “NHS Highland had instructed the Nairn Healthcare Group to stop taking referrals for patients to use the Hydrotherapy Pool from July 1. However, having received a number of representations, it has been decided to ensure that no feasible options have been overlooked.”
He said further discussions between the Hydrotherapy Trust, Highlife Highland and NHS Highland would follow to establish “a revised model of both service delivery and value for money.”
The board hopes to secure an agreement by October. In the interim, it has pledged to support new referrals and ongoing treatment for patients.
The spokesman added: “In the absence of a signed service level agreement at this stage, we will continue to pay the rate mutually agreed during the last financial year.”
A spokesman for the trust that owns the pool said: “The public meeting goes ahead. This latest statement from the board doesn't change that.
“We are surprised with this statement when they told us by e-mail last Friday that they would offer dates for a one-to-one meeting over the next few days.”
“Revised model of service delivery and value for money”