Medical Division
There are so many great reasons to come and work for us, and on this page, you will find out more about some of the individual medical specialties across NHS Dumfries & Galloway. Each division within our Health Board has a dedicated Manager which allows for excellent lines of communication for our different teams.
Why work for NHS Dumfries & Galloway?
- Smaller teams providing a real sense of community within the workplace
- Positive culture throughout the organisation
- Visible and approachable senior managers
- Free parking across all of our sites
- Regular social events in and out of work hours
- State of the art facilities including clinical training spaces and simulation suite
Click on the specialty below for more information
Acute Medicine
Based in the Acute Medical Unit at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary, the Acute Medicine Team is on hand for initial assessment/triage of medical patients. There is also an Ambulatory Emergency Care which is run by Advanced Nurse Practitioners with the support of the Acute Medicine Consultants.
You can find more information on the Acute Medical Unit here.
The Health Board hosts students from Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities during their final two years, and elective students from other Universities, with an increasing number of students applying to undertake Special Study modules. We attract postgraduate Clinical Attachments and have an active programme of teaching for trainees preparing for MRCP examinations.
“It’s a lovely place to work because we’ve got a really good multi-disciplinary team ethos” Acute Medical Consultant
Why work here?
- State-of-the-art hospital designed with patient flow in mind
- Multi-Disciplinary team - integrated working with physio & OT teams. We also have a dedicated Social Worker and Pharmacist within the team and a dedicated Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) who sees ambulatory care patients
- Located adjacent to the Emergency Department - strong and supportive relationship between teams
- Development opportunities to explore specialty interests - Combine working in Acute Medicine with a specialty interest
- The team has access to medical high dependency beds on the Critical Care Unit if required
- Portable Ultrasound (US) machines allows for bedside US to take place
See inside the Acute Medical Unit
Anaesthetics
“What we offer here is the opportunity to be part of a strong and stable department” Consultant Anaesthetist
The department of Anaesthetics is located in Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary. The Anaesthetics team were heavily involved in the design of the department and the operational policy for the Operating Theatre suite, Combined Critical Care Unit and staff office accommodation.
The main theatre complex consists of 8 operating theatres and 4 endoscopy/minor procedure rooms. The operating theatres include a dedicated obstetric theatre, three UCV (laminar flow) theatres and two integrated (laparoscopic) theatres. Each theatre has an anaesthetic room. Equipment in Theatres is of a high standard with all anaesthetic machines equipped with electronic flowmeters/end tidal control; BIS and videolaryngoscopes in each theatre; fibreoptic bronchoscopes, oesophageal Doppler and ultrasound facilities for regional anaesthesia all readily available.
Critical Care Unit
The Critical Care Unit is a combined Intensive Care and High dependency unit with individual rooms: some with en-suite; one with isolation facilities and one procedure room suitable for temporary pacemaker insertion etc. All patient bedrooms have electrochromic glass fronts and large windows to maximise natural light.
Acute and Chronic Pain Service
The model includes multidisciplinary triaging of patients and a pain education session prior to the patients being appointed to the appropriate health care professional (Pain Consultant, Psychologist and/or physiotherapist). We have strong links with the tertiary centre in Glasgow who provide advanced interventions including spinal cord stimulation and a residential pain management programme.
There is a well established Specialist Nurse led Acute Pain Service with Consultant Anaesthetist support. Epidural anaesthesia, PCA, continuous regional anaesthesia techniques are all supported at ward level.
Why work here?
- Anaesthesia and Critical Care combined together - unified, strong and stable department
- 8 operating theatres and 4 endoscopy/minor procedure rooms - including dedicated obstetric theatre, three UCV theatres and two integrated (laproscopic) theatres
- Staff were involved in the design of the department within state-of-the-art hospital
- Anaesthesia Department supports Cresswell Maternity Wing, ECT and Galloway Community Hospital
- Paperless department - Critical care information system
- Generous Study Leave
- Active in multi-centre research with a track record of involving trainees and specialty doctors
Cardiology
Based in DGRI, the Cardiology team have a full range of investigative and treatment facilities on site, including treadmill exercise testing, transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography with Doppler, with facilities for stress echocardiography and 3-D imaging, tilt-testing, holter monitoring and CT coronary angiography. In addition to the acute setting, the team works across the region with Cardiac Rehabilitation Team and Heart Failure Nurse Service based within the community and work across Dumfries & Galloway.
Within the team, we have Consultants, Specialty Doctors, Cardiology Nurse Specialists, a Rehabilitation Team, Heart Failure Nurses and Clinical Physiology team to contribute further to the development of a progressive multidisciplinary service.
“I started here as a student and had lots of support for development to work my way up to my current post” Lead Physiologist
Why work here?
- State-of-the-art hospital with investigative and treatment facilities - including oustanding image quality in Interventional Lab
- Cardiac Rehabilitation Team and Heart Failure Nursing Service are utilising technology, such as NHS Near Me, to support patient follow-up
- Flexible and adaptable team who work closely to support each other
- Weekly multi-disciplinary and huddle meetings
- Part of Managed Clinical Network for Coronary Heart Disease - one of the first in the UK (click for more information)
- Link to Regional Genetics service, regional service for Adult Congenital Heart Disease with visiting Consultants, and close working with Advanced Heart Failure Service at Golden Jubilee National Hospital
- Part of the West of Scotland Optimal Reperfusion Service, with Primary PCI being facilitated at University Hospital Hairmyres in Lanarkshire
- West of Scotland strategy group – whole team have opportunity to be involved
- Department supports educational opportunities for all staff - Eg. Learning tool for staff and patients for valve imaging, Nursing and Physiotherapy colleagues have opportunities for Prescribing courses
Take a tour of the department
Care of the Elderly
Like all areas of Scotland, our population is steadily ageing; the demographic trends within Dumfries and Galloway highlight a reduction in the number of working-age people and an increase in the number of older people living alone and living with two or more long term conditions.
Based at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary, the Care of the Elderly Department includes Stroke, Movement Disorder, Falls, Orthogeriatrics and Rehabilitation Medicine services, in addition to General Medicine for the Elderly. A needs related admission policy is in operation. The majority of admissions are emergencies and are admitted via the Acute Medical Unit. Direct admissions can be taken during normal working hours. Patients are admitted via General Practice, Out-of-Hours service or the Emergency Department. Medicine for the Elderly Services are provided from two core acute sites – Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, Dumfries and Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer with input into nine cottage hospitals.
“It’s a fantastic hospital to work in… it’s small and really friendly” Consultant Geriatrician
Hear from the team
Why work here?
- Developing Front Door Frailty service - opportunity to influence service design as part of a small team
- All specialties on one site including: Inpatient Rehab, Inpatient Neurology, Renal Unit, Hospice, Stroke, Falls and Parkinson's specialties
- Friendly and connected team with regular interdisciplinary contact
- Opportunities to work in the community and make a real impact in a region with an ageing population
- Education and development - lunch time sessions, journal club and video-conference link to local and national CPD offerings
Dermatology
Based at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary, the Dermatology team is a compact team made up of Consultants, Specialist Dermatology Nurses, a Dermatology Staff Nurse and further Staff Nurse input at the Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer. We also have support from an excellent administrative team.
At DGRI, we offer surgical (most of a one-stop nature), general, biologic, acne, leg ulcer, Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and Phototherapy clinics – some Consultant and others Nurse led. There are peripheral clinics (mixed type of patients) in Newton Stewart and at the Galloway Community Hospital. Phototherapy is also offered in Stranraer for patients in the west of the region.
We are a close team and try to meet regularly for CPD sessions. One of the advantages of working in DGRI is the close relationships we have fostered with our wonderful Pathology colleagues (regular CPC meetings) and excellent communication with our maxillofacial and general surgical colleagues. We link with Oncologists and Plastic Surgeons based at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre, and have regular Melanoma MDT meetings with access to Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer MDT meetings as necessary. A link to the West of Scotland Cutaneous Lymphoma MDT meeting is also available.
Dermatology is a busy but rewarding department to be involved with. We have embraced digital technologies and feel in many ways that our Specialty leads in this field, and are looking at other ways to progress and develop the service using such technologies.
Key Features of the Team
- Provide one stop clinics
- Great team of specialist nurses who support our clinics
- Near Paperless department
- We offer UV light treatment on site
- Pathology is onsite
- Great relationships with teams all of which are on site at DGRI eg Max Fax, Urology and pathology
- Excellent relationships with GP, they engage directly with consultants sending pictures of cases for consultations
- Opportunities to engage with other services (sub specialisms)
- Great team with patient centred approach, high level of job satisfaction
- The department is highly efficient and cohesive
Hear from one of our Dermatology nurses:
Favourite thing about the Region:
It’s a friendly , homely place, great scenery, and a good place to bring up children.
Favourite thing about NHS D&G:
My walking group, going to the cinema.
Interests:
Friendly staff and good support team.
Diabetes and Endocrinology
Diabetes care is delivered from a dedicated Diabetes centre at Mountainhall Treatment Centre, Dumfries. There are peripheral clinics held in Stranraer both in person and using telemedicine. The service offers all aspects of modern diabetes care including delivery of the DAFNE and DESMOND structured education programmes, a multidisciplinary ANC, multidisciplinary foot clinic, a combined renal/diabetes clinic, a CSII pump clinic and a transitional diabetes service.
Diabetes
Dumfries was one of three pilot sites in Scotland to run the DAFNE programme and has been running it since 2005. These courses are now established and proving to be invaluable for Patients with type 1 diabetes. We are an intervention site for the new DAFNEPLUS RCT.
All newly diagnosed type 2 patients in Dumfries and Galloway are offered the opportunity to attend the DESMOND education programme. Audit has shown this to improve glycaemic control.
The team is made up of medical staff, Diabetic Specialist Nurses and Diabetic Dieticians with links to Psychology and Podiatry. The nursing team has experience in CSII therapy and all nurses are DAFNE trained. The Diabetes Specialist Nurses (with a nursing/educational background) are based in Dumfries & Nithsdale and Annandale & Eskdale and play a pivotal role in bridging the primary / specialist care interface. With enhanced skills in achieving behaviour change and are skilled in a variety of psychological tools including motivational interviewing and CBT.
Diabetes Dieticians (DAFNE, DESMOND trained and pump trained) are aligned whole time to the service and participating in the regular DGRI based clinics.
Endocrinology
Currently there are 4 endocrine clinics per week in Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary. In conjunction with endocrine clinics held at DGRI, a nurse led endocrine testing service has been established. Radioiodine therapy is available for patients with thyrotoxicosis. Neurosurgery for pituitary disease is currently carried out in Edinburgh with links to Glasgow for adrenal surgery.
Key Features of the Department
- Comprehensive Diabetes register using SCI-Diabetes System - approximately 6,100 individuals with Diabetes in Dumfries & Galloway (circa 900 with Type 1 Diabetes)
- Delivery of DAFNE and DESMOND structured education programmes
- Excellent performance in the annual Scottish diabetes survey
- Use of digital retinal screening programme with the highest rate of screening in Scotland
- Longstanding adolescent clinics with input from both the paediatric and adult services
- Fully functional Diabetes service - don’t need to send patients elsewhere, although we have excellent links to tertiary centres
- Pregnancy service access to Continuous Glucose Monitoring and pumps - highest number of insulin pump users in Scotland
- Potential to work in the community, Managed Clinical Network for Diabetes, excellent links between Primary and Secondary care (click for more information)
- Our team is ahead of the curve nationally with new approaches to patient consultation, (group) Psychological interventions, flexibility within the team utilising nurses and dietitians
- Close team with opportunities to influence service design and create new approaches
Emergency Medicine
The Emergency Department within NHS Dumfries & Galloway is a very functional and organised department with a highly regarded multi-disciplinary team. Medical and Nursing staff within the department are valued, and are encouraged to develop areas and skills of interest as well as contributing to education, training and service development.
The department sees a full cohort of undifferentiated medical, surgical and trauma patients, including a large number of children, with approximately 40,000 patients annually across the region (this total excludes ‘direct’ admissions to hospital admitting teams).
The Galloway Community Hospital, which is situated in the West of the region, also has an Emergency Department with approximately 10,000 patients annually.
Find out more about the Emergency Department here.
Key Features of the Department
- Small team with opportunities for development and the change to be part of service design and influence patient care
- Single bedded unit - allows flexibility and is a great benefit for our department
- Excellent multi-disciplinary working across teams including other specialties
- Trauma Unit – helipad at both Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary and Galloway Community Hospital
- The department hosts medical students from University of Glasgow and University of Dundee, as well as students on the ScotGEM programme
- We have a supportive culture of education and learning, and the team are very involved in foundation training and medical education
- Staff from the department lead in the development and delivery of simulation training throughout the organisation, both in the clinical area, and within the state of the art simulation facilities in the Education Centre
- The department has been recognised by Quality Review Panels for consistent high quality training of junior doctors and undergraduates. Most recent training survey feedback from undergraduates in Emergency Medicine continues to place our department highest in the West of Scotland
- The team continues to have a close relationship with University of Glasgow, with a number of senior clinicians holding Honorary Senior Lecturer status
- Very sociable team with activities co-ordinated within the department including mini competitions
Hear from one of our charge nurses :
Favourite thing about NHS D&G:
The team I work with and the variety of patients I meet in A&E.
Favourite thing about the region:
Palmerston Football Ground where I can support our local football team Queen of the South.
Interests:
Cycling, playing the accordion, painting and decorating, spending time with family and friends.
Hear from the team...
Gastroenterology
The Gastroenterology team is based in Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. Gastroenterology services currently include out-patient clinics, in-patient treatment for various Gastroenterology disorders and a wide range of endoscopy procedures. Our in patients are based in Ward C5. Out-patient clinics and Endoscopy lists also run out at The Galloway Community Hospital.
The team consists of Consultants, Nurse endoscopist/IBD nurse, Gastroenterology Specialist nurse, Gastroenterology Dieticians and a secretarial team.
“I would not replace working with my local Gastro team with anything else as it has the most efficient and passionate members who are kind and look after each other”
Gastroenterology Team Lead
Why work here?
- Friendly and well established Gastro team with great team rapport
- Fully equipped Endoscopy unit for diagnostic and therapeutic purpose
- Well trained nursing team who support and oversee procedures
- Strong links to Hepato-biliary service with MDT and Liaison Nurse Specialist who co-ordinate Hepatoma care with TACE, radioablation and visiting oncology
- Excellent links with Edinburgh IBD multi-disciplinary team meeting for complex case referrals and links to Scottish Liver Transplant Unit
- Regional drug and alcohol services with excellent support from the local Alcohol Liaison Nurse and Consultant
- Use of technology for clinical consultations (NHS Near Me) and for meetings and networking with local and tertiary teams
- Weekly Gastro Multi-Disciplinary meeting with excellent input from Colorectal surgeons IBD specialist nurses, Gastro Dieticians, Pathology and Pharmacist
- IBD helpline 9am-5pm led by the IBD specialist nurses
Haematology
The Department
Based at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary, the Haematology service provides BCSH level 2b care. Peripheral clinics are conducted in Newton Stewart, and at the Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer.
The clinical Haematology team is made up of Consultants, Specialty Doctors, a Haematology Clinical Nurse Specialist and an Oncology Pharmacist. The Haematology Laboratory & Blood Transfusion Department undertake a full range of routine blood testing including coagulation and haemolytic screens, as well as B12 and Folate assays. The annual workload is in the order of 500,000 tests, approximately 55% of which are generated via GP direct access.
Nursing colleagues manage patients with specialised haematological problems. Patients with bleeding disorders are primarily managed by the Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre situated at a tertiary centre in Glasgow, and have an out-reach clinic provided in Dumfries. All chemotherapy and Haematology out-patient clinics are held in an integrated cancer centre situated on the ground floor of DGRI. Plasma Exchanges are performed by the renal physicians within our local renal unit.
We undertake routine antenatal screening, antibody screening and crossmatch (approx 5,000 units Blood transfused pa). Most of the Blood Transfusion serology testing is processed via automation.
Key Features of the Department
- Small, friendly, supportive team
- Team consists of medical and nursing staff including Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Small hospital which allows real relationships with other departments and management - everyone is visible
- Spacious chemotherapy suites and new Oncology suite
- Dedicated haematology/oncology pharmacist
- Close links with West of Scotland Cancer Network
- Close link with Beatson Oncology Centre - all acute lymphoblastic leukaemias and the younger acute myeloid leukaemia patients are transferred to the Beatson for intensive chemotherapy and the conducting of haematological trials.
- Combined Radiology-Haematology meetings within the Health Board
- The department is involved in the Better Blood Transfusion programme
- Opportunities to develop skills and education
Infectious Diseases
The infectious diseases team is based at Dumfries and Galloway. and provides inpatient, outpatient and out reach services across the region.
The team are made up of consultants, Specialty doctor and a highly skilled specialist nursing team.
Why work for us?
- State of the art facilities including FibroScan equipment
- All acute wards at DGRI are single occupancy rooms to support infection control
- Highly experienced Blood Borne Virus (BBV) nursing team
- Experienced OPAT nursing team who insert midlines and have access to picklines via Anaesthetics
- Outreach clinics allow us to have great links with our team in Stranraer, GP Practices, Community Pharmacists, Alcohol & Drugs Service, local prison and volunteering organisations
- Accredited Microbiology Laboratory and excellent multidisciplinary working with the Labs Team
- Excellent support from administrative team (including support to maintain Hepatitis C input to national database)
- Well established national networks where colleagues have the opportunity to represent NHS D&G e.g HIV clinical lead and HCV clinical lead
- The department uses MS Teams which allows excellent local and national networking
Nephrology
Our team consists of medical staff, dialysis nurses, Ward D8 staff, transplant link nurse, vascular access nurse, kidney care planning nurse, peritoneal dialysis nurse, kidney education nurse, specialist renal dietitian, renal pharmacist, renal engineer and renal admin team.
Out-patient clinics are provided either virtually or face-to-face at Mountainhall Treatment Centre, Galloway Community Hospital and Newton Stewart Health Centre.
Renal in-patients care is provided at DGRI mainly on Ward D8.
In-Centre Haemodialysis is provided close to the patient’s home at either Mountainhall Treatment Centre, Kirkcudbright Hospital and Galloway Community Hospital.
“I value my colleagues and feel that I have been supported in ways that I would be unlikely to get outside of this great team.”
Consultant Nephrologist
Why work for us?
- We are a small friendly team providing comprehensive kidney care.
- We provide a full range of nephrological services including In-centre & home haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, plasma exchange, immunosuppression for immunological renal disease, native kidney biopsy, and care of kidney and kidney pancreas transplant recipients. Acute dialysis on ITU is delivered jointly by renal and intensive care teams.
- We have an excellent working relationship with both renal and transplant tertiary centres including Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Most of the recipient and donor kidney transplantation work up is done locally with transplant surgeon visiting Dumfries from Glasgow to minimise the patient travel burden. We consistently perform above average with the number of transplants performed annually.
- We have established a renal outreach vascular access service with the Glasgow transplant team, wherein the surgeons come to Dumfries to see patients and perform vascular access procedures.
- We are part of the national research groups and regularly contribute to renal research.
- We provide out-patient and in-patient plasma exchange services to support our colleagues from multiple specialties. We have established a tenet ‘please write to me’ in all out-patient communication.
- We run joint Diabetes renal clinics with the Diabetes team on a fortnightly basis and have a dedicated working group to support patients with diabetes on haemodialysis.
- We have regular transplant assessment, renal vascular access, CKD-MBD, Kidney care planning, strategy and business meetings.
- We work very closely both with primary and secondary care colleagues and consistently get excellent feedback.
Neurology
The Department of Neurology provides a comprehensive service at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary with additional out-patient services also provided at the Galloway Community Hospital, Stranraer. The department supports patients with a range of conditions including MS, Parkinson’s, Epilepsy, Headache and Motor Neuron Disease.
The Neurology department receives around 1000 new referrals per year and currently manages 200 MS patients. We are one of the highest rated services against the Healthcare Improvement Scotland Neurology Standards.
Find out more about the Neurology department here.
Key Features of the Department
- Team includes Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) - Multiple Sclerosis (MS) , Parkinson's Disease (PD), Epilepsy
- Positive close relations with other departments eg. Geriatrics, Infectious diseases, Gastro and Cardiology
- Huntington Disease team
- Motor Neuron Disease (MND) Specialist nurse from Glasgow
- Excellent links to tertiary centre in Edinburgh
- Consultant offices shared between 2 consultants, spacious with great views
- State of the art MRI imaging
Oncology
Based in the Oncology/Haematology Department, the Oncology Team consists of highly skilled and expert site specific cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists, registered nurses highly trained in the knowledge and delivery of systemic anti-cancer treatments and healthcare support workers who are dedicated to support the delivery of expert and compassionate care. The team are supported by Consultant Oncologists from Edinburgh Cancer Centre with dedicated visiting Consultant Oncologists. In addition, the multidisciplinary team includes a dedicated Pharmacy team, and supportive administration team consisting of reception and secretarial staff.
The department operates Monday – Friday and provides the following services:
- Out-patient oncology consultations
- Out-patient systemic anti-cancer treatments with dedicated on-site aseptic services
- Regular systemic anti-cancer treatment delivery at the Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer
- On site cancer information and support in conjunction with Macmillan Cancer Support
- Breast prosthesis and wig fitting
- Complementary therapies
The department is predominately nurse-led providing practitioners with a high level of autonomous working.
Why work for us?
- Nurse led services by our Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists
- The service is supported by a Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment (SACT) Delivery Team and visiting Oncologists
- Encourage and support development opportunites for nursing staff e.g Nurse prescribing course and SACT administration course
- All Cancer Nurse Specialists have spacious offices shared between 4
- The team includes a Lead Cancer Pharmacist which supports the great relationship with the Pharmacy team
- Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary has a dedicated Aseptic Service on site
- Large open plan space for delivering treatment
- The team offers a nurse-led SACT delivery clinic at the Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer
- Macmillan Cancer and Information Support Centre located adjacent to the department which provides great support to staff and patients
- State-of-the-art facilities including Oncology Seminar meeting room with Video Conferencing capabilities for holding Mulit-Disciplinary meetings
- Workspaces and meeting rooms equipped with visual and audio equipment for digital consultations and meetings
- As a small Health Board, we have great relationships with other specialities and work collaboratively with Primary Care partners
- NHS Dumfries & Galloway is part of the South East Scotland Cancer Network - Lead Clinicians and Cancer Nurse Specialists are representatives for our regional working partnership
“Being a small unit, you build up good relationships with the patients and their families. It is a great team to work with and good banter! A fun environment with great team dynamics”
Oncology Nurse
Palliative Care
A highly skilled, motivated and forward thinking team of medical and nursing staff who deliver care to people with life limiting illnesses and their families, and support staff working across the region to do this.
Find out more about our department on our dedicated website coming soon.
Why work here?
- Department sits within Acute & Diagnostics and is integrated into the main district hospital - this allows for 7 day medical cover
- Opportunities to work with both inpatient and community settings
- Opportunity for service design as part of a small team
- Nursing team work closely with all of the MDT - hospital and community (e.g. Macmillan nurses).
- Single rooms with a more homely feel and each room has a patio area for patients and families/friends to enjoy
- Department night-time on-call (5pm-9am) is covered remotely
- Links with End of Life studies group at University of Glasgow Dumfries Campus
- Attend Anywhere - Outpatient clinics delivered to patients in their own home through use of technology
- Virtual visiting available
- Specialised training opportunities for all staff (nationwide)
- Members of the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care
“Working in B1 is a very rewarding role. Caring for patients and their loved ones, following their wishes with respect and compassion during very difficult times. I especially enjoy making little wishes come true for patients and/or doing small gestures that make their time with us more special e.g. we have had horses visit patients in the gardens, an ice cream van, birthday parties, weddings, a sheep to visit and Italian ‘date night’ to name a few.”
Senior Charge Nurse
Respiratory
The Respiratory department is based predominantly in Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary, with staff and outpatient clinics also taking place at the Galloway Community Hospital, Stranraer.
In addition to the medical staff in the department consisting of Consultants and Specialty Doctors, the Integrated Respiratory Team (IRT) is led by a Lead Respiratory Nurse and includes a team of Specialist Nurses, Physiotherapists and Health Care Support Workers that work across secondary care and the Community.
We have a highly renowned and successful sleep and ventilation service which is predominately supported by our Specialist Sleep Nurse and Respiratory Nurses. Our Lung Cancer Service, supported by a Specialist Lung Cancer Nurse, offers one-stop assessment with CT and bronchoscopy and a weekly MDT. Respiratory Specialty Doctors and Specialist Respiratory Nurses also provide in-reach to the Acute Medical Unit (AMU).
Key Features of the Department
- Integrated Respiratory Team (IRT) is a substantial multidisciplinary team, providing seamless care from acute into the community, for a variety of respiratory conditions
- Strong multi-disciplinary links with other teams as all teams situated within Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary e.g Critical Care, Radiology, Care of the Elderly, Management
- Lung Cancer Service – one-stop clinic with telemedicine links to tertiary centre in Edinburgh and Golden Jubilee in Clydebank
- The department offers a sleep disordered breathing and ventilation service
- The team are always making positive changes and improvements e.g Establishing our Integrated Respiratory Team
- Opportunity to represent your profession on a national level, including regional boards and multidisciplinary teams
- Technology is ingrained into outpatient practice with significant benefits to our rural community
- Speciality doctor and specialist nurse in-reach into the Acute Medical Unit (AMU), allows for a prompt specialist opinion and proactive management of Respiratory beds ensuring a ‘right patient, right place’ approach
- The Integrated Respiratory Team are working on the application of a bespoke digital self management plan, supported by a successful bid for a Scottish Government grant
“Despite sometimes having hard days at work, I would not work anywhere else. I really feel that this team is a great team to work for, a great hospital and that’s why I travel to work here every day.”
Respiratory Consultant
Rheumatology
The Rheumatology team provide a growing and comprehensive range of services delivered primarily in the outpatient setting, as well as ambulatory/day case treatment in a dedicated unit and inpatient care accommodated within the medical unit. Clinics are run on a hub and spoke model on the Dumfries and Stranraer sites.
Our team comprises of medical staffing and Nurse Specialists who provide inflammatory arthritis review clinics, pre-biologic screening and logistic management, and a telephone helpline. We work alongside a dedicated multidisciplinary team of Allied Health Professionals including Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Podiatrists.
As well as general and early inflammatory arthritis services, sub-specialist interests within the department include connective tissue disease, Giant Cell Arteritis (rapid access service in development) and osteoporosis. Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a particular interest ,the department having recently secured two new high quality machines specifically for rheumatology patients.
Our biologics service at present manages over 300 patients receiving biologic agents (15% by intravenous infusion, delivered in the ambulatory care unit, and the remainder by self administered s/c injection). Other intravenous agents such as immunoglobulins, immunosuppressants for vasculitis and bisphosphonates can be delivered in the ambulatory setting.
Key Features of the Department
- Close team working with individual autonomy whilst empowering development of individual skill sets and leadership roles
- CT, MRI, DXA are available on-site, whilst nuclear medicine imaging (isotope bone scan and PET CT) are accessible via tertiary centres
- As a small board close working relationships with other specialities and departments
- Rheumatology ultrasound trainer on site facilitating local learning and upskilling
- Weekly team clinical huddle to discuss biologic new starts / switches and complex cases
- Monthly team management huddle
- Core values of patient centred care and realistic medicine
- Close links with tertiary services in both Edinburgh and Glasgow
- Active involvement in national audit and developing research portfolio