Maternity and health care tops list of Caithness wishes for 2025

Better access to local health and maternity care closer to home is among the main wishes for Caithness as we enter 2025.

We asked far north politicians and leading community figures what their top three priorities for the coming year were - and investment in healthcare features in most of the responses.

The 100-mile-plus journey from Wick and other parts of the county to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness has featured regularly in news reports questioning the care offered to women in the area.

In December the issue was referenced in a report on human rights issues that will be considered by a UN committee in 2025.

The maternity unit at Caithness General Hospital in Wick was downgraded on safety grounds in 2016, with the majority of local mums now giving birth in Inverness. Figures for 2023 showed that only eight babies were born in the Wick facility, compared to more than 200 in Inverness.

Concerns have regularly been raised about the safety of women and their babies when they have to make the long journey, particularly in winter when the road can be closed due to weather conditions or crashes.

Wick and East Caithness councillor Willie Mackay said there is no guarantee you are going to make the trip without issue.

“The reinstating of a consultant-led maternity unit at Caithness General Hospital is paramount and the fight to keep local health services is on everyone’s wishlist in a battle that has been going on for eight years,” he said.

“For me, the problem that the NHS have is that they are not addressing the worry, anguish and distress expectant mothers have when told we are sending you down the A99 and A9 to Raigmore.”

Alastair Ferrier, chairperson of the Association of Caithness Community Councils, agreed. “I’d like to see progressive positive steps toward bringing full maternity health care back to Caithness General Hospital, so that our mothers to be in labour can be assured they can be offered the same health care and maternity experience without having to make that arduous journey down the A9 to give birth in Raigmore.

“In addition, I’d like to see more health services brought back to Caithness, and allow the people of Caithness and Sutherland to have more local options. There is a declining population in the north, and the health care services available is a big factor in this.”

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone including having “a proper high-quality maternity service in Caithness, so that future mothers can safely deliver their babies safely and locally” in his wishlist, while Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain wanted to see “more investment and focus on Caithness General Hospital, so that people only go long distances when it’s absolutely required”.

He added: “Crucially, we need to give local women the confidence to give birth in Caithness, and not force them to take the treacherous journey to Inverness at their most vulnerable time.”

Iain Gregory, vice chairperson of Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT), said: “For CHAT, I would like to hear a New Year’s resolution coming from Holyrood, undertaking to deliver the long-promised health hubs, investment in Caithness General Hospital, and a commitment to address the concerns of mums to be, their babies, and indeed all patients currently obliged to travel the long and winding road to and from Raigmore.

“After all, Christmas is the time for miracles and New Year is the time for new beginnings.”

Caithness councillors Matthew Reiss and Jan McEwan also backed the calls for more maternity and gynaecological services provided locally.

Wick and East Caithness councillor Raymond Bremner said he was pleased that we are returning to a more normal way of life after the Covid-19 pandemic had such an impact on communities, but he acknowledged that challenges remain.

“Banking methods are changing, churches seem to be less attractive to our young people, online shopping continues to challenge our high streets, young people find our cities more attractive and the habits and practices within our communities are constantly changing,” he said. “We need to do all we can to create opportunity and support initiatives that seek to sustain our communities in different ways.”

The Highland Council leader wants to see communities empowered, “providing increased hope for the future and a better environment for our young people with increased opportunity”.

Eann Sinclair of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, MP Jamie Stone and Green MSP Ariane Burgess all wanted to see some positive moves taken at Sutherland Spaceport after operator Orbex “paused” its plans for the site at A’Mhoine, near Tongue, late in 2024.

The responses in full

Wick and East Caithness Councillor Willie Mackay:

The reinstating of a consultant led maternity unit at Caithness General Hospital is paramount and the fight to keep local health services is on everyone wishlist in a battle that has been going on for eight years.

For me the problem that the NHS have is that they are not addressing the worry, anguish and distress expectant mothers have when told we are sending you down the 105 miles A99 and A9 to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. Furthermore, the NHS believe that no person or persons will ever get stuck on that torturous route because they can call out all the available resources from helicopters to police, the army, mountain rescue, snowploughs and coastguard.

But all that doesn’t help reassure the mother about to make that trip because the first thing she thinks about is will I get there. For myself, I’ve been up and down the A99 and A9 for 55 years and nowadays you never know if you are going to get there in the now normal two-and-a-half hours.

As someone who appreciates voluntary work across Caithness I would also like to see more recognition for all our community councillors in the 11 community councils across Caithness. These individual volunteers are the eyes and ears of their parish, raising issues and concerns in a great effort to enhance the county and make it an even more wonderful place to live. Coupled with that, they all need to be empowered and above all they need to be taken seriously and listened to.

I would like to see a continuation of our road funds and if possible additional monies coming forward to help improve our roads. I would like to see more appreciation for what has been done already as there has been a lot done and also appreciation for the workers at ground level who are doing their level best to arrest the alarming situation.

The continuation of our Wick John O’Groats Airport and flights to Aberdeen is a must and I know the general public would like to see flights to Edinburgh or Glasgow, but let’s make this public obligation a success first, which I hope and wish it would, then lead to more destinations to fly to.

I’m proud that Wick is the only sizeable town in the whole north of Scotland which can be reached by all four modes of transport – road, rail, sea and air (some would argue with me that the village of Plockton offers all four as well).

Alastair Ferrier, chairperson of the Association of Caithness Community Councils:

I’d like to see progressive positive steps toward bringing full maternity health care back to Caithness General Hospital, so that our mothers to be in labour can be assured they can be offered the same health care and maternity experience they receive in Inverness without having to make that arduous journey down the A9 to give birth in Raigmore. In addition, I’d like to see more health services brought back to Caithness, and allow the people of Caithness and Sutherland to have more local options. There is a declining population in the north, and the health care services available is a big factor in this.

For the year 2025 I’d like to see more tourists encouraged to stop for a few days in the county and see the unique experience offered by Caithness, rather than just stop the night on their way to Orkney or to go west. The county has so much to offer it would be good to have some sort of means of bringing the attractions together and a joint marketing initiative, but I’d like to go a stage further and see Caithness and Sutherland coming together to market the north Highlands which would benefit both areas.

Finally for the year 2025, Caithness has to be one of the best and productive counties when it comes to volunteer groups and voluntary led initiatives. There are too many to mention, but every corner of the county, every village, town or country area, thrives on volunteers, most weekends, evenings in the spring, summer or autumn there are volunteers out there doing things for their areas, whether it be organised events such as spring cleans or self initiated events, or helping others, there is an army of town and county folk out there doing things for their area. For the year ahead I hope this continues and people continue to join in and do their bit. The voluntary work that goes on in the county makes me proud to be part of Caithness and makes for a great place to live and long let it continue.

Raymond Bremner, Wick and East Caithness councillor and Highland Council leader:

A couple of years back, I commented on how I wished for our communities to see light at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel and that our communities would be able to rebuild given the issues that Covid-19 caused for us. That was a hugely anxious and terrible time for many in our communities and I’m glad that we seem to have exited that awful episode in our lives and that we have returned to a more normal way of life.

However, challenges remain. We have seen closures of banks and churches and other facilities in our local area. People are living longer with folk having less children. Less folk are training in the skills we need and geographically we are challenged to retain their skills in the areas where they are needed. When we see these things happen, it can often challenge our ability to see what opportunities there can be to strengthen our communities, make them sustainable and attract investment.

Banking methods are changing, churches seem to be less attractive to our young people, online shopping continues to challenge our high streets, young people find our cities more attractive and the habits and practices within our communities are constantly changing. We need to do all we can to create opportunity and support initiatives that seek to sustain our communities in different ways. The demand for services remains while the ability to provide these services often seems to be diminishing.

My first wish for 2025 is for us to be able to continue to build on the wonderful work and resilience of our local communities here in Caithness following the nightmare of Covid-19 and for us to continue to support that work in whatever way we can.

My second wish is for us to be able to continue to empower our communities to be everything that they can and want to be and for us to do whatever we can to help deliver that.

Finally, my third wish is for us to continue to create a local community in new and different ways where we can live and thrive, providing increased hope for the future and a better environment for our young people with increased opportunity. Together, we can all help make that happen, not just in 2025, but for the years to come after that.

Eann Sinclair, HIE:

The north’s whisky/heritage cluster – It’s been a great few years for young companies like 8 Doors Distillery, North Point Distillery and Dunnet Bay Distillers – 2025 will see the opening of the exciting new Castletown Mill visitor experience and I can’t wait to see it operating.

The return of the John O’Groats Mill – 2024 marked 15 years since HIE launched the Masterplan for John O’Groats, and with the opening of the mill in 2025 it really feels like a milestone in that transformation will have been reached. The future looks bright for the John O’Groats area.

A way forward for Sutherland Spaceport – We were all taken aback at the announcement in early December 2024 that Orbex would be “pausing” construction at the spaceport site on the Moine, and moving launch operations to the spaceport in Shetland. We will be working with landowners Melness Crofters’ Estate and others to find a way forward for this facility.

Jamie Stone, Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross:

To have a proper high-quality maternity service in the Caithness, so that future mothers can safely deliver their babies safely and locally.

That any hitches to the Sutherland space launch are overcome and we see the benefit of high-quality local employment in the far north – and hopefully a launch as soon as possible.

That proper examination is given to undergrounding the new national grid in the Highlands, so that minimal damage is done to our beautiful landscape.

Edward Mountain, Scottish Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands:

Improvements for local healthcare – Far too often, people in Caithness are forced to travel huge distances for basic healthcare needs. We need more investment and focus on Caithness General Hospital, so that people only go long distances when it’s absolutely required. Crucially, we need to give local women the confidence to give birth in Caithness, and not force them to take the treacherous journey to Inverness at their most vulnerable time.

Honesty on energy – For too long people all across the Highlands have been taken for a ride by energy companies. They just aren’t transparent and accountable when it comes to what they’re planning to do. And government isn’t honest about what we need. Both need to come together and set out a detailed 25-year plan about energy and infrastructure, and start taking community opinion seriously.

Homes and roads – Depopulation is a concern for many rural communities, and it’s a big problem for Caithness too. We need to persuade people to remain living here, and make it attractive for others to come and work here. The dire situation with social housing, and the wild west that is property prices, is making the situation worse. So too is poor infrastructure, not least the state of our potholed roads. Both must be fixed as a matter of urgency.

Maree Todd, SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross:

We have some incredible businesses with mighty social impact in Caithness – the Wick River Campsite, run by the Wick Development Trust, being a brilliant example. I look forward to seeing them move onto their next phase of development and seeing the benefits the boost in tourism brings to Wick.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Dounreay apprentices’ prize-giving earlier in 2024. It’s always inspiring to see our talented young people shine, and I’m excited to see the positive contributions they will continue to make in 2025.

Caithness is rich in history, culture and creativity, so I’m delighted that through an increase in funding for the creative arts included in the recent budget, that this will allow more funding opportunities for the likes of the Lyth Arts Centre – which we know is treasured and enjoyed by so many.

I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many inspiring folk from all across my constituency this year. A personal highlight for me was getting to join the Noss Primary School bike train – it was a joy to take part and I look forward to seeing this fantastic project continue to grow in 2025.

Iain Gregory, co-founder of Caithness Roads Recovery (CRR), vice chairperson of Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT), and secretary to Thurso Community Council (TCC):

Speaking for CRR, I want to see major investment in our collapsing roads infrastructure. Every year, not only does CRR have to battle daily for improvements, but at Christmas we have added worries for the safety of Santa, his reindeer, assorted elves, and the suspension on his sleigh, as he negotiates the crumbling cart tracks of Caithness, on his festive mission to the far north of Scotland. Let us hope that by Xmas 2025, this concern has been dealt with.

For CHAT, I would like to hear a New Year’s resolution coming from Holyrood, undertaking to deliver the long-promised health hubs, investment in Caithness General Hospital, and a commitment to address the concerns of mums to be, their babies, and indeed all patients currently obliged to travel the long and winding road to and from Raigmore. After all, Christmas is the time for miracles and New Year is the time for new beginnings.

For our towns and villages across Caithness, I would like to see a commitment from Highland Council to invest time and money into our businesses, our homes, our schools, and our public buildings, thus enhancing the quality of life for all. Remember, “Difficult Roads often lead to beautiful destinations” - and Caithness is a beautiful place. Let’s build on that.

Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess:

Action on empty homes. I’m working on a report demonstrating how much more affordable it is to retro-fit and renovate existing empty properties (of which there are thousands across the Highlands). This could be a quick and affordable way to address the dearth of affordable housing, especially in rural communities, and we have the powers needed in Scotland to address it.

More support for small-scale growers and crofters. Last year I secured a number of amendments to the Agriculture and Rural Communities Act aimed at opening up more support for crofters and market gardeners – now I am doing what I can to make sure that support is delivered through the agriculture payments system.

A brighter future for the Sutherland Spaceport. This has been a huge focus for MSPs representing the area this month. The community needs a clear plan for the site – either to continue as a spaceport with users from other companies or to restore the landscape and be supported to develop other opportunities to create jobs and homes but, whichever turns out to be the best option, it can’t be reliant on the whims of private investment. Once again, we really must grasp the opportunities offered in community wealth building.

Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Matthew Reiss:

A definitive date from the Scottish Government for when they will finance the urgent repairs required for Caithness General Hospital.

A straightforward and spin-free statement from the Highland Council’s SNP-led administration that they will now start to fund road repairs sufficiently to halt the accelerating decline of roads and pavements in Caithness.

The appearance of cheerful, brightly coloured flowers in Rotterdam Street – the pedestrian precinct – in Thurso next summer... rather than the drab vegetables we have seen in recent times.

Wick and East Caithness councillor and provost of Wick, Jan McEwan:

My first wish is for everyone in Caithness to have a very Happy Christmas and good New Year. My second wish is for better maternity and gynaecological care for women of all ages in Caithness and Sutherland. My third wish is for all the property owners on the main shopping areas to take a good look at their buildings, windows etc and ask themselves, can I do better?

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