Visit spotlights success of DG rehab team

NHS Dumfries and Galloway Community Rehabilitation and Physical Disability Service welcomed public health minister Jenni Minto last week. She visited Mountainhall Treatment Centre on Thursday to hear more about the community rehabilitation service. It supports people following an acute illness such as stroke or long term neurological diagnosis such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s. A team of specialists, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and nurses, assess patients and work together to support them with a customised programme of therapy and exercises to assist them manage their condition and become as independent as possible. Spokesperson Lynne Mann said: “We’re very happy that the work of the service is being recognised by this visit. “The service, working in partnership with other local teams, has a great record in supporting people to live as independently as possible. “Rehabilitation for conditions such as a stroke can make a huge difference to someone’s quality of life, and allows them to get home faster and start living independently. And that in turn means that we can treat the next patient more quickly, which improves their outlook as well.” Jenni Minto added: “I was hugely impressed with the community rehabilitation services being offered to people living with long-term health conditions, to support them to live well and access services closer to their homes. “This supports the vision in the Scottish Government’s recently published Service Renewal Framework, by adopting a community-orientated approach to health and social care. This, in turn, will contribute to more integrated services to meet people’s needs and improve health outcomes.”

• The minister is pictured above centre with NHS staff