A new Community Care and Treatment Service (CCATS) has been launched to aid patients in local venues across Perth and Kinross.
CCATS, which provides a range of care and minor injury services, is now based at seven hubs in the region.
The hubs are located at Dalweem Care Home in Aberfeldy, St Margaret’s Community Hospital in Auchterarder, Blairgowrie Community Hospital, Bridge of Earn Hub, Crieff Community Hospital, Beechgrove House in Perth and Pitlochry Community Hospital.
The service has been introduced in line with the new national GP contract and as part of the Scottish Government’s Redesign of Urgent Care programme which is aiming to change the way people access urgent care across Scotland.
The development of these centres and the aim of the national programme is to support people to get the right care in the right place.
CCATS delivers a range of non-GP services, including complex wound care, blood sample services (also known as phlebotomy), blood pressure monitoring, leg ulcer assessment and suture removal.
Patients are asked not to self-present at the CCATS centres for these treatments as initial appointments are arranged through local GPs or through follow-up appointments by CCATS staff.
CCATS hubs based in Aberfeldy, Blairgowrie and Pitlochry also provide treatment for minor injury services, including shallow cuts or abrasions, sprains and muscle strains, bruises and skin lesions, and minor burns.
These minor injury CCATS hubs operate on an appointment-only basis. Minor injury appointments are arranged through NHS 24 on 111, which is the national helpline set up to do this across Scotland.
The introduction of the centres means that the majority of minor injury services previously provided at the three Minor Injury Units in Perth and Kinross have now been incorporated into the CCATS.
Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership chief officer Jacquie Pepper said: “CCATS provides a more modern model of care which is responding to local people’s healthcare needs.
“Having care and treatment hubs at more locations across Perth and Kinross means that more patients can receive health care and treatment closer to home than before.
“These centres provide a modern-day service and will also use technologies developed during the COVID-19 pandemic such as online and telephone consultations to enhance patient experience.
“We have already seen the hubs working well in local communities with positive feedback from patients receiving services.
“The development of these centres, alongside Pharmacy First and NHS Inform, will support the people of Perth and Kinross to get the right care, in the right place by the right person, first time.”
For more information visit NHSinform.scot/right-care
