Life is set to become a little easier for rheumatology patients attending Stirling Community Hospital thanks to a major donation from a local charity. The Friends of Stirling Community Hospital recently donated almost £65,000 to NHS Forth Valley and almost half of this has been used to purchase a new ultrasound scanner for the Rheumatology Department. The remaining funds will be used to purchase a new retinal screening scanner and teaching resources for the Diabetic Unit along with a RemPod (a special pop up display which is used to support reminiscence activities with patients who have dementia).

The new ultrasound scanner was officially presented to local NHS staff by Allan Dewar, Chair of the Friends of Stirling Community Hospital who said: “We are very pleased to have been able to purchase this equipment, particularly for Stirling. The Friends have been going for 70 years and over that time have gifted many items to a total of £850,000.”

Mr Dewar (right) is pictured with Rheumatology Consultant Dr Sara Else and NHS Forth Valley Chairman Alex Linkston.

Mr Linkston added: “This is an extremely generous donation which will make a real difference to local patients. Many people attending the Rheumatology Department are in pain and anything which can speed up their diagnosis and treatment is to be warmly welcomed.”

Ultrasound scanners are very useful for evaluating joints and related structures to see whether a patient’s symptoms are due to inflammation in these areas. They are used for both diagnosis and in guiding decisions regarding treatment. Until now, local patients from the Stirling area had to travel to Forth Valley Royal Hospital to receive a scan which required an additional visit to hospital. Now the majority of local rheumatology patients who require an ultrasound scan can have it carried out at the same time as their clinic appointment. A further benefit is that patients may not need a follow-up appointment to review the ultrasound result which will help create extra capacity and free up outpatient appointments for other people.

The new retinal screening scanner, which is due to be delivered shortly, cost £28,000 and will be installed in the Ophthalmology Department where it will be used to support patients with diabetes who require regular eye checks.  Meanwhile staff have chosen a traditional tea room backdrop for the RemPod which will be delivered to the new Bellfield Centre.