Caithness health service redesign to be delayed by up to six months, says NHS Highland
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The redesign of health services in Caithness is to be delayed by up to six months, NHS Highland has confirmed – but not by two years as was claimed at a meeting of Thurso Community Council.
The project, which will result in two new community hubs in Wick and Thurso as well as changes at Caithness General Hospital in Wick, was due to be completed by the end of 2025 but is now likely to take four to six months longer, according to the health authority.
It says the reason for the increased timescale is the buildings have to have zero carbon emissions and that "will require time to get right".
NHS Highland was responding to a claim made at last week's community council meeting when Caithness Health Action Team chairman Ron Gunn said the redesign project was not due to be completed until 2027.
Mr Gunn, who is also a local Highland councillor, sits on the steering group which oversees the redesign process. There has been concern expressed previously about how long the initiative is taking.
"If it continues to get pushed back, where does that leaves us," he asked.
Mr Gunn, a Thurso and Northwest Caithness Highland councillor, said the explanation given for the delay was unsatisfactory. The project, which is estimated to cost around £80 million, has been approved by the Scottish Government. "It is moving but not as fast as we would like and we will be keeping an eye on the situation," he added.
Other community representatives were also dismayed by what is happening. Ian Wright said: "The longer this goes on the more expensive it will get."
James Campbell wondered who is accountable for the delay. "Where does the buck stop," he asked.
It was pointed out that negotiations on the location for the Wick hub are continuing but the Thurso facility will be at the Dunbar Hospital.
An NHS Highland spokesman stressed the redesign is "ongoing" and said "certain elements" will be completed before the timeline given by the health authority.
"The redesign work is already having an impact on health and social care services across Caithness, including an overnight service being piloted in East Caithness which has resulted in a reduction in hospital admissions and out-of-hour GP and ambulance call-outs, and an improved care-at-home service," he said.
"We anticipate that the full business case for the redesign will be completed by 2025. These are required to be approved by the Scottish Government prior to commencing construction. We carried out a more detailed analysis of the work required following the Initial Agreement going to the NHS Highland board last year.
"This takes account of the complexity of the redesign which is a huge programme that seeks to fundamentally change the way we deliver all health and social care in the district. It also includes three separate building projects which are mandated to be net zero carbon – a commitment made by the Scottish Government in October 2021.
"We have not delivered net zero buildings before and the briefing and design process will require time to get this right."
The spokesman added:"There may be an extension of four to six months for the hubs to be completed due to net zero carbon targets, but this does not signal a two-year delay in the completion of all phases. The Scottish Government approved our Initial Agreement in February 2022 with an estimated capital cost in the region of £80 million for the three building projects plus non-recurring revenue of £2.8 million."
