Work begins on £2.7m hospital unit

CONSTRUCTION work began yesterday on a £2.7 million Nuclear Medicine Unit at Perth Royal Infirmary, to provide improved diagnostic imaging services for patients in the area.

Once the unit is completed by the end of the year, it will mean an end to the present system under which patients in the Perth area, requiring diagnostic studies, have to travel to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

John Angus, the chairman of Perth and Kinross Community Health Partnership, said: "This is another example of the commitment being made to the people of Perth and Kinross by NHS Tayside Board, who will be investing in excess of 160m over the next few years in services at PRI, a new mental health development at Murray Royal Hospital and the Perth and Kinross Integrated Dental Treatment and Training Centre at Broxden."

It was also revealed yesterday that a new satellite pharmacy dispensary had opened at Perth Royal Infirmary, allowing easier access and quicker availability of prescriptions for patients on wards and outpatient departments.

A spokeswoman for NHS Tayside said: "The new satellite dispensary, which houses dispensary staff and the clinical pharmacy team, is located in the main building close to the wards and outpatient departments.

"Previously, staff and patients would have to get prescriptions from the main pharmacy, which is situated in a different area, some distance from the ward blocks."

Mr Angus said: "There is absolutely no doubt that patients and staff will benefit from its close proximity to the wards."