Pitlochry’s service users have been told the minor injury and illness unit (MIIU) will be redesigned before the end of the year.

A new care and treatment hub is promised by the Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership (PKHSCP), to open at Pitlochry Community Hospital.

It follows months of restricted opening hours at the MIIU due to a severe staff shortage.

There is some good news in the short term, with the MIIU opening at weekends again in the immediate future, beginning next month.

People presenting with minor injuries and illnesses will be able to find help on weekdays from 9am to 6pm and on weekends from 9am until 9pm.

James Laurenson, chair of Pitlochry and Moulin Community Council, said: “The last few months of restricted hours of opening at Pitlochry MIIU has been very unsatisfactory.

“The problem has been in the communication of how things were shaping up, month to month. It has been most frustrating. Now we are told it will be redesigned, so we’ll have to just wait and see what transpires.”

Andrew Holmes, secretary of the community council, added: “It seems odd that a building that was only opened 11 years ago by the then health secretary Nicola Sturgeon, and which has hardly been used to its full extent, is in need of redesign to fulfil its original purpose.”

The Scottish Conservative politician, Murdo Fraser, who represents the Mid Scotland and Fife region, discussed the matter with health secretary Jeane Freeman at the Scottish Parliament last week, following written correspondence between them.

The health secretary told Mr Fraser the new care and treatment hub will bring medical services such as phlebotomy, wound care, post-operative wound care management and suture and ulcer care together, with the aim being to increase access to appointments for patients.

The Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership had previously told Mr Fraser that the MIIU at Pitlochry Community Hospital will be redesigned into a care and treatment hub by October.

Mr Fraser said: “I had been concerned at the restricted hours of the MIIU at the hospital and was pleased when it was announced that the facility would open its doors at weekends from April.

“The Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership then confirmed that the unit would be re-designed into a care and treatment hub, which is why I asked the health secretary for more detail.”

Highland councillor Xander McDade said: “These proposals are not to replace the MIIU, but should rather complement and enhance their role.

“In line with the new GP contract, it will free up GP time by increasing the services provided by the MIIU. It will bring in additional staff, helping make the MIIU more sustainable, which is something the whole community will welcome.”

Evelyn Devine, head of health for the Perth and Kinross  Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “Planning for the development of a Care and Treatment Hub in Pitlochry Community Hospital is in the very early stages. W

"We hope that providing services through the hub will create additional time for GPs to spend longer with patients who need their skills the most.

“We aim to have a new Care and Treatment Hub in place at Pitlochry Community Hospital before the end of 2019. 

"Members of the public should also be assured that MIIU services will not be closing in Pitlochry and plans for the hub aims to strengthen and boost the services already provided in the current MIIU.”