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The new outpatients department at Arran War Memorial Hospital in Lamlash is spacious, calm, light and airy.
That is what first strikes you on entering the purpose-built department as well as its warm and welcoming feeling - far removed from similar departments in larger urban hospitals where things can seem impersonal and hectic.
Clerical, medical and outpatients have moved from the old outpatients in the main hospital building, adjacent to the new facility, and are enjoying their new high-tech surroundings, built at a cost of £450,000.
The new outpatients can cater for different forms of clinical work. As well as a vast office there are three multi-purpose rooms for clinicians and accommodation for community staff including district nurses, public health nurses, the community mental health team and the community occupational therapy team. All of this is designed for NHS Ayrshire and Arran to offer the best it can in outpatient care.
A large meeting room offers space for seminars and workshops and also houses a video-link which is handy for communicating with mainland medical staff.
Added to this, there is a light, airy waiting room designed to make patients feel at ease.
Hospital manager Alan Stout said: ‘This development reflects our commitment to expand local clinical services and deliver them locally.
‘Having three multi-purpose rooms is a three hundred per cent increase in clinical accommodation, replacing as they do the single room in the old outpatient facility.
‘Podiatry now has purpose-built accommodation and there is improved accommodation for a number of outpatient clinics including paediatrics, dermatology, ear, nose and throat and ophthalmology.
‘The introduction of better information technology systems in our clinics is also improving communication with mainland hospitals, results reporting and our appointment system.
‘The new facility has already seen an increase in activity with additional podiatry, hearing aid and paediatric clinics.
‘The large meeting room with video conferencing facilities means that staff no longer have to travel to the mainland for training courses or meetings.
‘This facility is also used to provide counselling services, without the need for travel, for local people who have a counsellor based on the mainland.’
There is an increased number of parking spaces with additional disabled spaces next to the building itself.
The hospital is now on the bus route from Brodick to Whiting Bay and Stagecoach provides a bus with low-level access.
It is hoped to find a new medical purpose for the old outpatients room in the main hospital building.
