GRAMPIAN NHS HAS confirmed that long awaited plans to reintroduce a chronic pain clinic in Moray will go ahead in February.
Patients who currently have to endure regular travel to Aberdeen for the specialist treatment they require will finally receive treatment at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin – bringing a successful conclusion to a campaign to re-establish a service that was removed from Moray in 2011.
Campaigners, led by Forres man Chris Bridgeford, launched a bid for the reintroduction of the clinic earlier this year – and recruited the assistance of Richard Lochhead MSP, who hosted meetings between the campaigners and NHS Grampian.
While that resulted in a promise to establish the clinic by the end of this year, there were further delays caused by staff recruitment issues that saw the date pushed back – however, a spokeswoman for the health service has confirmed plans to open the clinic in February are “on track”.
Mr Lochhead said: “The return of a pain clinic to Dr Gray’s in early 2016 will be a well-deserved breakthrough for patients in Moray – in particular campaigners of the Affa Sair group such as Chris Bridgeford.
“The option of receiving care locally could make a world of difference to those that suffer from chronic pain. Of all the conditions that require treatment, the last thing chronic pain sufferers want is to have to travel an hour and a half to get to Aberdeen and attend a clinic.”