Foula tele care

People in Foula will shortly be able to benefit from hi-tech healthcare support, with the arrival of a new health clinic later this autumn.

A purpose-built Portakabin has been specially adapted to house a fully-equipped GP’s surgery along with the latest digital technology which will allow remote assessment of a patient’s vital signs, including blood pressure and pulse, plus ECG/heart monitoring and digital imaging.

Medical services in Foula are delivered by a resident nurse with regular GP visits, and NHS Shetland assured islanders that these will both continue.

The health board said that the clinic would allow live video-conferenced consultations and could be particularly useful in the event of an emergency, or when the weather makes it difficult to travel to and from the island.

The board’s chief executive, Ralph Roberts, said the scheme could be applied to other remote communities.

“Digital technology is becoming an increasingly important – and valuable – means of supporting the delivery of care and healthcare services, and is particularly valuable in communities such as ours where access to services can be difficult.

“This means that we can provide live, one-to-one consultations with patients whenever necessary, with all the critical medical information to hand.”