Turning Point Scotland has officially opened a new clinical facility at the charity’s recently launched North Lanarkshire Crisis Outreach Service in Airdrie.
This is the second clinical room Turning Point Scotland have opened this year to enhance access to primary healthcare services for the people the charity support, having launched a similar facility in Aberdeen in January.
The clinical room is a significant investment, built to the same specifications used in a GP surgery and will be staffed by a senior nurse, to provide assertive outreach healthcare for individuals with problematic drug and alcohol use.
The development of the clinical room began earlier this year with experience drawn from Turning Point Scotland’s Clinical and Care Governance department, which oversee clinical facilities for Aberdeen Housing Services, Glasgow Alcohol and Drug Crisis Service and Glasgow Alcohol & Drug Recovery Residential and Stabilisation Service.
Turning Point Scotland, Head of Clinical and Care Governance, Mandy Ramsay said: “This new clinical room will provide new opportunities to further develop work with key partners in improving pathways and access to healthcare services, while also providing space for visiting health professionals.
“A holistic approach to supporting individuals is provided with this new clinical facility. Through our Senior Nurse, Heather McKenzie we now play a part in ensuring the individuals we support with problematic alcohol and drug use receive dignified healthcare.”
Turning Point Scotland, Head of Alcohol and Other Drugs Patricia Tracey said: “We are committed to helping people who use alcohol and other drugs using approaches, which aim to reduce harm and place safety at the forefront of care delivery. The clinical room at North Lanarkshire allows us to continue to work holistically with key partners ensuring both health and social care needs are identified early to we can continue to reduce drug related harm and save lives.”
Officially launched in February, the North Lanarkshire Crisis Outreach service located in Stirling House began delivering support to people to increase their engagement with alcohol and other drugs services, in November 2023.
Service Manager, Melissa Reid and Senior Nurse, Heather McKenzie