Public surveyed on Stirling Community Hospital

Dec 14 2011 by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Wednesday

NHS Forth Valley has been finding out what the public think about the new community hospital in Stirling.

Members of the Public Partnership Forum have been conducting a survey asking a series of questions about cleanliness, tidiness, and whether people can find their way around.

The hospital is currently processing between 400 and 500 outpatient appointments a day, and also cares for patients attending X-Ray and the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU).

Major rebuilding and refurbishment work which had originally been proposed has had to be shelved because of lack of funding.

However, the board hopes to implement what measures it can to improve the site meantime.

Keen

NHS Forth Valley healthcare planner Lesley Middlemiss said: “We are keen to hear what people think. This will help us further improve the community hospital and ensure we are providing a positive experience for everyone.”

NHS Forth Valley Public Partnership Forum co-ordinator Jessie-Anne Malcolm added: “We want local people to feel that this is their hospital and that their opinion counts.

“One thing that has come across already is that patients are keen to see clear signage about what services are here, and what has transferred across to the new Forth Valley Royal Hospital at Larbert. One patient told us he was delighted that there was still a hospital in Stirling.”

Meanwhile work is continuing on further changes to the hospital. In January 2012 a new Minor Injuries Unit will open in the ground floor of the former maternity unit. This will replace the current MIU which is situated in the former accident and emergency department in the Queen Elizabeth Wing. The Queen Elizabeth building will then be demolished, as planned.

Transfer

In March 2012 some inpatient services are set to transfer from Bannockburn Hospital to Stirling Community Hospital.

Other changes involve the day hospital at Orchard House Health Centre in Stirling and alcohol and drug services based there. They too will move to Stirling Community Hospital early in the new year.