EDWARD MOUNTAIN: Winter weather is stark reminder of journey worries
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Holyrood Notebook by Edward Mountain
The recent wintry spell of weather may be welcomed by Santa Claus and his sleigh but for many others it is stark reminder of the far north’s remoteness from centralised services.
When the snow falls and the ice gathers on our local roads it stirs up feelings of dread and worry for those who are travelling, especially for patients and expectant mothers making that 100-mile journey south to Inverness.
These fears are not misplaced. This has been one of the worst years on record for serious accidents along the A9 and, tragically, fatalities have risen to their highest level in 20 years along this main trunk road.
Something must change urgently before more tragedies occur. This doesn’t appear to be a top priority for the Scottish Government though, who have cut £75 million from their roads budget and continue to ignore calls for an independent review of maternity services in Caithness.
However, as we head into 2023, I am undeterred in my efforts to ensure the far north finally receives the infrastructure upgrades and local health services it needs for communities to thrive.
Indeed, when it comes to health care provision in the Highlands, I am renewing my calls for the centralisation of services to be reviewed.
The current model, in which 95 per cent of Caithness mums take the gruelling journey down to Raigmore Hospital to give birth, is not working. Even more worrying is the prospect of repeating this approach by redirecting more Moray mums to Inverness following the downgrading of maternity services in Elgin.
The Scottish Government plan would place tremendous pressures on Raigmore’s maternity unit, which isn’t designed or staffed to cater to such a large demographic.
Extra staffing, funding and ward upgrades would be required. However, even with that investment, Raigmore’s maternity staff, who I meet with regularly, continue to be sceptical about the safety and viability of this proposed model. Their concerns should not go ignored.
The truth is centralisation is not the answer to everything. It is only appropriate in certain circumstances.
That’s why I welcome the creation of the National Treatment Centre – Highland. This new facility will build additional capacity into our health service, which will help to reduce long waiting times for orthopaedic patients.
Nevertheless, when I recently questioned the SNP health secretary on this facility’s ability to be fully operational on the first day it opens, I was worried to learn that the centre would have a phased opening. This is due to recruitment issues – 30 per cent of the required workforce are still be secured.
Highlanders have already had to wait almost two years longer for the National Treatment Centre to be completed. So, it would be another huge blow if the facility cannot operate at full capacity straight away in April 2023.
Orthopaedic patients from the far north will again have to travel down to Inverness for treatment but I would encourage the health board to ensure avoidable journeys, prior to treatment, can be kept to a minimum where possible. This will require more joined-up thinking from NHS Highland.
Improving health services in the far north and across the Highlands is vital and I will continue to campaign on this matter into 2023 and beyond.
I wish all readers of the Caithness Courier and John O’Groat Journal a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
- Edward Mountain is a Highlands and Islands MSP for the Scottish Conservatives.
