NHS Western Isles’ system of approving NHS-funded patient escorts is going under the spotlight After an increase in the number of people being refused help.
Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP Alasdair Allan has invited the chief executive of NHS Western Isles to a round table event to discuss the system.
Patients travelling off-island for treatment to mainland hospitals will, in many cases, require an escort to accompany them. In March, NHS Western Isles introduced a new system for approving requests for NHS-funded escorts, with the health board’s medical director now making the decision where previously this had been the responsibility of the patient’s GP.