A specialist frailty unit at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary’s emergency department is playing a key role in improving care for older patients by providing rapid assessment and tailored support.
The unit is part of a national initiative expanding frailty services across all 30 A&E departments in Scotland. These specialist units focus on early assessment, reducing hospital stays, and ensuring patients receive the right care as quickly as possible.
Health Secretary Neil Gray has announced that by summer, every hospital with a core A&E will have a dedicated frailty service. This expansion is supported by a £200 million investment aimed at reducing waiting lists and improving patient outcomes.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway are among the regions already benefiting from the initiative, helping vulnerable patients receive more effective, community-focused care. NHS has announced some progress, such as a four per cent decrease in total waitlist size for diagnostics being the lowest since October 2021.
There are currently five frailty units across Scotland, including the one in Dumfries and Galloway. The Scottish Government’s new Operational Improvement Plan for the NHS, due to be published this spring, will outline further steps to enhance acute services and reduce delays in care for older patients.
