Health
February 2008
Doctor/GP: There is one purpose built doctor's surgery in Strachur District. The practice has a dispensary, one consulting doctor, 1 associate doctor, 1 locum doctor, and 1 practice nurse five days a week, monthly visits from the chiropodist, weekly visits from the health visitor, the services of a district nurse five days a week and 2 receptionists.
Dentist: Nearest dental surgery is in Dunoon (20 miles).
Optician: Nearest optician is in Dunoon
Care facilities: Sheltered Housing run by Trust Housing Association Ltd (formerly Kirk Care) at Manse Gardens, Strachur
Hospital & Acute Services: The nearest general hospital with limited A&E is in Dunoon
Ambulance Service: Based Dunoon, with an outpost at Tighnabruaich.
Patient Transport: Carried out by Dunoon-based Scottish Ambulance Service Patient Transport staff, backed up by a taxi firm, also from Dunoon. There is also a community-based accessible minibus service run by Interloch Transport. Air Ambulance helicopters are able to land on the shinty field and the new carpark adjacent to the Memorial Hall.
Strategic Issues
There have been concerns over the time taken for ambulances to respond to emergencies in the district. This is thought to be due to remoteness of the Scottish Ambulance Service control centre - lack of local knowledge - combined with a lack of paramedic staff cover for Cowal.
With an increasing elderly population, there may be a need for more local 24-hour medical care facilities for older people. It is currently necessary to travel to Dunoon for respite care.
Patient transport to/from appointments used to be carried out by Red Cross volunteers, which worked well before the service ceased. An alternative voluntary system might be preferable to the current system.