The Oaks - Elgin

Student nurses are attending the Oaks for a one day course as part of their community placement in 3^rd year. We welcome them coming and aim to provide useful insight into the role of the unit.

Volunteers support staff in a variety of roles, adding many skills and qualities which are much appreciated by staff and patients.

Out patient clinics provide a variety of treatments to enable those who do not attend day care to access the services.  The Acupuncture clinic is proving successful with increasing number of patients reporting benefit from the therapy.

The addition of a monthly Multiple Sclerosis Clinic has proved very worth while, with the MS specialist nurse holding a clinic within the Oaks.

The Macmillan Citizens Advise Project Worker continues to be based at the Oaks and offering financial advice and support to both out patients and day care patients. This is working well and referrals to the unit have increased because of this.

Changes to the initial assessment procedure result in patients being seen by the multidisciplinary team and goals and plans formulated prior to commencement within the day care unit. This enables staff to ensure that patients will benefit from attending and we have a clear team approach.

A memorial service was held in September 2009 within the beautiful setting of St Giles Church in Elgin, and was jointly led by staff from the Oaks and the Macmillan team. The service was very well attended and feedback has been extremely positive. It is planned to hold these on a yearly bases.

Following an in depth assessment it was an honour for The Oaks to be awarded the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark in March 2010.  This award recognises the warm, welcoming, clean and secure environment which users of the Oaks find when they enter the building.  Further assessment will take place on a three yearly basis, therefore helping to ensure that the standards within the building and of care are kept as high as possible.