Health / Mobile operating theatre hailed as ‘fantastic’
NHS Shetland chief executive Michael Dickson has lavished praise on the mobile operating theatre which opened its doors in Lerwick earlier this month.
He said the set-up is “phenomenal” and praised the care provided to patients locally after their operations.
The Vanguard operating theatre will be in place outside the Gilbert Bain Hospital for a total of 12 weeks.
It was brought to Shetland to allow more people to undergo operations amid a backlog of cases caused by the Covid pandemic.
Services include cataract and ear, nose and throat [ENT] surgery, while it also allows joint replacement procedures such as knee and hip operations to be carried out in Shetland for the first time.
Speaking at an NHS Shetland board meeting on Tuesday Dickson said the service has been “truly outstanding”.
People have started having joint replacement procedures this week, he added.
Dickson said it demonstrates what “makes Shetland such a special place”.
NHS board chairman Gary Robinson said he had been contacted by a couple of people who had been unsure about having operations in the “back of a lorry”.
But he said a video prepared by the health board to advise people on what to expect put them more at ease.
Up to 400 people are in line to undergo procedures in the unit, which is funded by the Scottish Government, over the coming few months.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -
- Remove non-local ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
