Possible Improvements To Lawson Memorial Hospital

12th October 2011

North Highland Community Health Partnership - the part of NHS Highland covering Caithness and Sutherland - is looking at possible improvements to the way in which it uses the buildings at the Lawson Memorial Hospital in Golspie.

But Locality General Manager, Georgia Haire, stressed that any changes would not involve reducing the number of beds at the facility or any reduction in services.

The Lawson site currently provides inpatient and outreach rehabilitation services in the 20 year old Cambusavie Unit and a GP led inpatient unit in Lawson Memorial Hospital. Other services delivered from the site include a minor injuries service, x-ray, out of hours medical service, general outpatients, day case and day surgery.

She explained that recent surveys of the site had shown that the hospital was in need of considerable work, much of which was associated with a number of flat roof areas.

Ms Haire said: "The current backlog for maintenance at the Lawson is £3.3 million, £1.85 million of which is likely to be needed within the next 5 years."

"We will be looking at options to improve the estate and the efficiency of our services whilst ensuring that all existing services on the site are maintained and enhanced where possible. We will be involving staff and the local community in the work."

Dr Janet Mair, a local GP, has recently been appointed to the new post of Clinical Lead for Sutherland Community Hospitals which covers all 3 hospital units in the area. This post will support the development of hospital services and ensure that the 3 units, Cambusavie and Lawson Memorial Hospital in Golspie and the newly built Migdale Hospital in Bonar Bridge work closely together to make best use of beds and improve the services available to the people of Sutherland.