Patients from across Fife are already benefiting from two new diagnostic and treatment units at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline, according to NHS Fife bosses.
The urology and day surgery units which opened to patients in September and January, respectively were officially opened on Wednesday by Health Secretary Shona Robison.
The units are the latest purpose-built facilities to open as part of the Queen Margaret Development Project.
The £520,000 urology unit undertakes outpatient and day case work, providing a wide range of clinics, reviews and urological tests. More than 1,000 patients are treated there each month.
Facilities include two treatment rooms, five consulting rooms, a large reception/waiting area and four-bed recovery area. The service operates a ‘one-stop clinic’ that allows patients to have a range of urological investigations completed within a single visit without the need for repeated appointments for separate diagnostic tests.
The day surgery unit provides treatment for a wide range of conditions, with patients admitted, treated and discharged within 23 hours.
Currently, more than 500 patients are treated each month at the unit, with that figure expected to increase further.
The £1.6 million unit, which replaces previous on-site facilities, provides a much-improved environment for patients. The unit comprises a 12-bed recovery area for patients requiring an overnight stay, two pre-assessment rooms, excellent recovery facilities, separate sitting rooms for day and overnight patients, and an education/seminar room for staff.
Ms Robison said: “It is fantastic to see these new units open and to meet patients who are benefiting from the new facilities. Both the day surgery unit and the urology unit are equipped with the latest specialist equipment, allowing NHS Fife to continue to provide an effective and efficient service in a bright and spacious environment.”
Professor Scott McLean, NHS Fife director of acute services, said: “Over the last 12 months we have seen a number of significant developments at Queen Margaret Hospital, all aimed at improving the experience of our patients.
“The new urology and day surgery units are equipped with the latest specialist equipment and provide a modern and purpose-built environment for patients to receive high-quality care.
“As well as improving the experience of our patients, the units’ adjacencies to other clinical services allows further learning and skill-sharing opportunities for staff.”
Other facilities opened in the last 12 months include the regional endoscopy unit and clinical intervention unit.