New mobile theatre expected to make a dent in NHS waiting list

PEOPLE waiting for joint replacements may soon be asked to come to the Gilbert Bain Hospital for the surgery carried out in a new mobile theatre.

NHS Shetland has just taken delivery of a mobile theatre which is expected to be ready for use early in the new year.

Around 100 local patients are expected to benefit from the government funded initiative.

Orthopaedic surgery will be provided by a visiting healthcare team between January and April.

There will also be specialist teams visiting the island to perform cataract surgery and ear nose and throat (ENT) procedures.

Director of nursing and acute services Kathleen Carolan said: “It is great news that we will be able to offer some additional surgical treatments to patients in Shetland, ensuring that people receive treatment safely and quickly without unnecessary travel.

“Our local teams have worked hard over the last six months to support the visiting healthcare teams to put these new pathways in place.

“The project is a pilot and we would really welcome patient feedback to help with our evaluation of the visiting services, particularly patient experience of joint replacement surgery”.

The first patients are due to receive cataract surgery from the week commencing 10 January, followed by a programme of orthopaedic procedures from mid-January.