Health chiefs and community campaigners are urging people to call 111 before turning up at the Vale Hospital this winter.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde bosses met with the Hospitalwatch group last week, with Melanie McColgan, director of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Clyde sector, stressing the importance of people having a referral to the Vale of Leven’s Medical Assessment Unit rather than turning up unannounced.
People can be referred to the MAU by their GP or by calling NHS 24 on 111 out of hours.
They may also be brought to the Unit by ambulance, but are strongly advised not to self-refer to ensure they are being seen in the appropriate place for them.
Those who do arrive without an appointment may be redirected to another service, which could have been arranged for them earlier if they had made contact with their GP or NHS 24 in advance.
Four members of Hospitalwatch, led by chair Jim Moohan, attended the meeting to hear about activity at the hospital from Ms McColgan and the Vale of Leven’s Clinical Services Manager and Lead Nurse, Margaret O’Rourke.
They were given an update on winter pressures facing hospitals across Scotland such as flu, Covid-19 and norovirus, and on plans to increase bed capacity if necessary, as well as the importance of continuing to tackle delayed discharge.
The group were also reassured to hear that the Vale of Leven now has 40 GPs in its out of hours service, and that a dedicated Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) Clinic has restarted at the hospital, which is led by a stroke consultant.
Melanie McColgan, Director of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Clyde sector, said: “We were pleased to have another positive and productive meeting with members of the Hospital Watch group at the Vale of Leven Hospital today.
“We value their support in helping us reiterate our messages to the public, and are always happy to give them a full update about activity at the hospital.
“As we move into the winter period with additional pressures on our hospitals, we are asking the public to help us ensure they get the right care in the right place by contacting their GP in-hours for non-life threatening conditions, or NHS 24 on 111 outside normal hours.
“This will allow us to refer patients to the right place for them, reducing the need for any secondary transfer.”
Jim Moohan said: “It is important the public follow the pathway created over the last few years in relation to attendance at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
“That includes seeking advice and following the link provided by their pharmacy and GP, and allowing the GP to move the situation forward where necessary.
“Breaking that link puts undue pressure on the hospital and we are grateful to the public for continuing to follow this pathway by contacting their GP in-hours, and NHS 24 on 111.”