Health call for rural patients

PATIENTS in rural areas of the Lothians should have as much access to flexible healthcare as their urban counterparts, a nurses union has said.

The Royal College of Nursing in Edinburgh told MSPs that health boards should ensure individuals cater for the needs of those in the outer reaches of the Lothians.

Theresa Fyffe, the organisation's director, said: "So long as patients are treated by healthcare professionals with the right skills, their job titles are not important.

"Health boards need to ensure that out-of-hours services offer safe and timely treatment to all communities, regardless of location."