Official Opening of Raigmore Hospital Wyvis Suite
Issued: 1 Nov 2025
Raigmore Hospital's Wyvis Suite, a £600k refurbishment which now houses our Pre-Op Assessment department and Cardiac ultrasound facilities, was officially opened today Thursday 1st November by the Chair of Specialist Services Unit, Pam Courcha.
Pre-Op Assessment is used to assess a patient's suitability for elective surgery. Patients are given an all over health check and assessed on a number of factors including blood pressure, weight, height and medical history.
Chrishan Folan, Pre-Admission Assessment Coordinator, explains:
"Patients are sent to us on the day of their outpatient appointment when they know they are to come in for surgery. Any problems they may have can be picked up in the health check so we can start treatment in advance of surgery, these can include high blood pressure, diabetes or thyroid problems. In certain cases we do check patients for MRSA."
"Pre-Op Assessment is a purpose built, nurse-led unit. We are available to answer any questions they have about the procedure and their after care. Patients are told their expected length of stay and, if they want, will also get the opportunity to tour the ward they will be in."
As well as Pre-Op Assessment, the Wyvis Suite also contains two new ultrasound rooms and new state of the art ultrasound equipment. Dr Colin Farman, Section Head of the Clinical Measurement Section, Department of Medical Physics, adds:
"Ultrasound services in the Wyvis Suite include Echocardiography, which is an ultrasound of the heart used to assess heart structure and function, and Carotid Ultrasound, which is an ultrasound of the vessels in the neck mainly performed on patients who have had symptoms of a stroke."
"The new facilities have increased service capacity, allowing more direct and rapid access. As a result of the move to the new rooms, additional equipment and staff, the maximum waiting time for a routine outpatient echocardiogram has already fallen from 20 weeks in January to less than six weeks currently."
The Wyvis Suite was officially opened at 1pm today and staff throughout the hospital were given the opportunity to take a tour of the new facilities as part of the open afternoon, organised by staff in the department.
