TOP Golden Jubilee medics have said that “every part of patient care will have to be re-imagined” as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

Since the emergence of Covid-19 and the associated restrictions, health specialists at Clydebank hospital have been using different ways to carry on with health services.

Consultant cardiologist Mitchell Lindsay said: “It’s not going to be business as usual any time soon.

“The days of attending a packed patient waiting room, sitting side by side with other patients, are gone.

“We have to think how we can deliver the same high quality, efficient care but making it a safe environment for the patient, with physical distancing, where you see the doctor and have all the investigations done in one trip rather than spreading them out.

“Every part of patient care will have to be re-imagined.”

To reduce the risk of infection throughout the pandemic, Golden Jubilee services have been redesigned to ensure patients have a safe environment on admission.

Heart attack services have undergone a massive redesign to ensure it is safe to admit patients and give them a shorter admission time through a direct access programme, reducing the need for them to attend other hospitals dealing with coronavirus patients.

Clinical teams at the hospital have introduced ways to make the journey of patients safer by using digital technology such as NHS Near Me to carry out virtual clinics and health assessments.

Consultant thoracic surgeon Rocco Bilancia said: “Initially we used to do video consultations only for patients who had a long distance to travel.

“But we’ve now extended this to patients from all over the country, even those living close to the hospital.

“The clear advantage for patients is that they don’t have to travel unnecessarily and they can do this from their home. Also, it can help relatives to join the virtual consultations.

“A lot of the feedback I get from patients is very positive, they seem very enthusiastic about it.

“The system is very easy to use and set up and it’s a very good tool that will stay with us well after coronavirus.”