Health staff in Arrochar have been shortlisted for a national award because of their work during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The team for Arrochar Surgery is among six finalists in this year’s People’s Choice section of the Scottish Health Awards.
During the pandemic, they not only delivered Covid-19 vaccines with minimum waste but went above and beyond to support people in the area, setting up a free community larder to help patients and residents who had seen income reduced or lost their jobs.
Staff checked on vulnerable patients to ensure they had food and medicine, as well as making sure they had access to free lateral flow tests.
Once restrictions had eased, the surgery staff also tackled issues of isolation and loneliness by putting on an afternoon tea dance for the over-60s and a dance for all ages, which raised money for Ukraine charities
Practice manager and nurse practitioner Angela McKell said: “We have a lot of hotel staff living in hostels in the area and many of them lost their jobs when everything shut down.
“We made sure they had access to food from a community larder run by young volunteers, and cooking equipment such as microwaves.
“We also supported isolated older people. Our dances were a huge success as it got everyone out and meeting each other. It was such a success we plan on having more.”
Voting is via the awards website – it closes at midnight on Sunday October 16.
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