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Pregnant women in Argyll get virtual antenatal clinics

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Pregnant women in rural parts of the Highlands are now getting regular appointments via a virtual antenatal clinic.

Women in Argyll are patients of NHS Highland but receive consultant antenatal care from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde staff.

This had meant a consultant obstetrician travelling from Glasgow to Oban to see patients at various stages of their pregnancy.

But that has changed thanks to the introduction of virtual clinics.

The doctor now runs her clinic from Paisley, saving a 180 mile round trip and freeing up more time for direct clinical care.

The system will soon be rolled out to Mull and Tiree, meaning pregnant islanders will not have to face travelling to Oban for consultations.

Dr Liz Blair feels both staff and women are reaping the benefits since its introduction.

She said: “As it’s mostly young women I am seeing, they are already used to this type of technology and don’t seem fazed by it at all.

“Before I ‘see’ each woman I chat through things on screen with the woman’s midwife, who will already have carried out the usual checks on blood pressure, urine etc.

“The midwife can update me on the woman’s background, antenatal history and other issues, which helps tremendously when the consultation starts.

“I see women at all stages of their pregnancy and during the clinic we could be discussing everything from how straight forward or complicated their pregnancy is to where they will give birth and any difficulties they are experiencing.

“It’s all done face-to-face so you still feel you are really able to gauge how women are feeling.”

“After my morning clinic I will be delivering babies via c-section in the afternoon, rather than travelling back down the road. I am sure everyone agrees it’s a much better use of my time.”

Dr Blair is excited about plans to expand the scheme, saying: “At the moment women on Mull and Tiree would travel to Oban either to see me or have a virtual consultation.

“We are working with NHS Highland to expand this really beneficial service and this will mean that I can see them face to face without them having to leave the island.”

Linda Brown, 30, who is pregnant with her third baby and travelled over from Mull for the virtual clinic, said: “As a nurse I completely understand that the NHS needs to use its resources wisely so I think this is a great idea. It will be even better when it’s rolled out to Mull and other islands.”

Jaki Lambert, an acting head of midwifery at NHS Highland, said: “We are really happy to support this new way of providing care. Women told us they wanted to travel less and we have listened to them.”