Appointment of permanent psychiatrist in far north would be 'good news for patients in Caithness', says campaigner
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THE appointment of a permanent psychiatrist in the far north would be "good news for patients in Caithness," according to a health campaigner.
Ron Gunn, the chairman of the Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT) was speaking after learning that NHS Highland has advertised for the position. The ad for a consultant in general adult psychiatry was placed in November and has a closing date of January 21. The position has a salary of between almost £97,000 and £129,000 and involves working "in various locations in Caithness and Sutherland" over 40 hours a week.
Mr Gunn, a Thurso and northwest Caithness Highland councillor, said a locally-based permanent consultant psychiatrist, who can undertake face-to-face consultations, is what is needed. "That would be good news for patients in Caithness."
He was unaware the post had been advertised but described it as "very important" and "one which we have been asking for."
"It is unusual we have not heard or been informed about it being advertised but we hope they get a good response. We would like to see a number of applicants applying. Fair play to NHS Highland for advertising for the post. They have been trying their best and, hopefully, listening to our concerns. We would like to see the position filled and the ideal solution would be to fill it locally," said Mr Gunn.
He said such an appointment would benefit patients in the far north and result in "essential face-to-face appointments being carried out." Mr Gunn pointed out there are long queues for patients with mental health problems and said they should be seen as soon as possible.
He also suggested the Scottish Government should provide some kind of incentive to try and attract more people to work in rural areas.
His fellow Thurso and northwest Caithness councillor, Matthew Reiss, was also pleased to hear a permanent post for a consultant psychiatrist has been advertised.
He said: "This has been going on for years and I understand NHS Highland has had problems with recruitment but I am pleased they are finally doing this.
"If the Scottish Government is serious about stemming depopulation in Caithness then it should provide extra money to try and attract people to live and work in rural areas and it would be money well spent in every sense.
"It is becoming clear to me that people in crisis need to speak to someone in the same room as them as that is more comforting and reassuring than a person on a television screen who, I have been told, could be as far away as Nottingham."
Councillor Reiss said it has been difficult in the past to recruit staff to the far north but added: "I hope NHS Highland is successful and gets someone to move to the north so they can find out what a really great place it is to work and live."
In its ad, NHS Highland states: "We seek to appoint a self-motivated clinician with an enthusiasm for General Adult Community Psychiatry to join our team of psychiatrists in NHS Highland. This post offers an opportunity to be a psychiatrist to a population spread across a number of remote and rural and urban communities in the far north of Scotland. The communities are well supported by community health teams, colleagues in primary care and a rural General Hospital. The capacity to deliver the service using digital technology is well developed, which opens up further opportunity to potential post holders. The service can be flexible about how this post could operate – part time posts would be considered."
It adds that applicants must be on the GMC (General Medical Council) specialist register in General Adult Psychiatry or within six months of award of CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training) by date of interview.
The post requires participation in the consultant on-call rota at New Craigs Hospital. Applications for flexible working will be considered.
As previously reported, far north MSP, Edward Mountain, wrote to NHS Highland chief executive, Pam Dudek, after concerns were raised by constituents about the decision not to renew the contract of the previous locum psychiatrist.
Mrs Dudek, who is retiring from her post in March, said the health board intended "to recruit a permanent consultant psychiatrist in Caithness."
