Caithness health group warning over ‘constant centralisation’ ahead of MSP meeting
Healthcare campaigners have warned that “constant centralisation of services and loss of local control” can only be detrimental to Caithness.
They say it is vital that resources are made available to NHS Highland to ensure as many patients as possible are treated in their local area.
The comments were made by Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT) ahead of a meeting with north politician Edward Mountain in Wick on Thursday. Mr Mountain, a Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands, is on a surgery tour of the county.
It follows a recent meeting between CHAT and Rhoda Grant, Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands, who had also contacted the campaign group to talk about healthcare issues in the far north.
It is intended to debate maternity care as well as the high numbers of Caithness patients who are required to make the 100-mile-plus journey to and from Raigmore Hospital for appointments.
A recent Freedom of Information request, made to NHS Highland by CHAT, revealed that in 2023 a total of 7569 patients travelled to Inverness from the county; a further 1747 had Near Me appointments; 4342 had consultations by telephone, and 65 by video. The figures for 2024 to date are 4568 at Raigmore; 1066 Near Me; 2406 by phone, and 36 by video.
CHAT vice-chairman Iain Gregory said: “We are fortunate in Caithness to have first-class and dedicated medical professionals across the county, but – as always – funding and staffing levels continue to be an issue. We believe it is vital that appropriate resources are made available to NHS Highland to ensure that as many patients as possible are treated locally.
“We are particularly concerned about the ‘pause’ in funding for the long-promised health hubs, and for work at Caithness General Hospital, it having been announced by the Scottish Government that the delay will be for at least two years before cash may be available – which, incidentally, will take us past the date of the next Scottish parliamentary elections.
“The constant centralisation of healthcare services, and loss of local control, can only be detrimental to all concerned, and we have made this point repeatedly in our meetings with politicians.”
Mr Gregory added: “CHAT has been closely monitoring the situation in Portree, where our colleagues in Skye have been urgently pursuing the question of access to 24/7 urgent care in the north of the island, and we will again mention the parallels with the situation at Thurso’s Dunbar Hospital.”
Separately, Mr Gregory said CHAT had received contact from STV which is hoping to interview local mothers for a documentary on maternity provision. He said: “This is an opportunity to tell your story at a national level, so if you would like to know more, please visit the CHAT Facebook page where all the contact details are available.”