RHODA GRANT: Caithness groups show they are willing to fight for local services
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Holyrood Notebook by Rhoda Grant
As I return to the Scottish parliament after recess, I am grateful to all the people, charities, community groups and businesses that I met over the summer recess.
I was recently in Caithness and I found it encouraging that so many voluntary organisations are willing to advocate and fight for their local services – it is inspiring.
An example of this is the Warmlie project. This project aims to offer the Ormlie area a reliable source of heating and hot water at a much cheaper price than what is currently available. With so many people struggling to keep their homes warm, this will be really helpful.
A survey conducted by the Caithness Poverty Action Group found that 53 per cent of respondents spend between £200 and £400 a month on home heating. Additionally, 45 per cent of respondents said they were only just getting by financially.
These are very difficult figures to comprehend and it shows the reality of the energy crisis. What is clear to me from discussions with constituents is that it is increasingly frustrating seeing cheap green energy generated in the area but that not being available to local people. It shows how desperately the energy market needs to be reformed.
Also while in Caithness I caught up with Caithness Health Action Team, Caithness Roads Recovery and North Highland Women’s Wellbeing Hub and spoke of ongoing issues that are affecting Caithness.
We spoke of many issues, accessibility to health services, the availability of gynaecological services locally, family accommodation in Raigmore Hospital, the patient travel reimbursement scheme and the deteriorating road conditions. I was even taken on a guided tour to see the potholes for myself which were shocking. I will continue raising these issues in parliament and I thank all those I met for giving me their time.
I am also concerned about the accessibility of home births in the region. I was told that these were virtually non existent in Caithness and this month it was revealed that home births in Inverness have been suspended by NHS Highland as there is currently a 56 per cent vacancy rate within midwifery in the city.
This makes me question what the situation is elsewhere within the NHS Highland health board area. We know that rural areas suffer recruitment and retention challenges more acutely than urban areas.
I have expressed my concerns to NHS Highland and await their response.
Caithness women already have restricted choices for child birth. Distance from services mean many choose an elective caesarean so not to risk a rushed drive to Raigmore Hospital.
Every woman has the right to choose where to give birth to her baby, so it is important that home births remain an option.
Lastly, I was sad to hear that Bill Mowat passed away recently, he was a well-known journalist, served on Highland Council and worked hard to promote Gills Bay Harbour.
He worked with community and myself to get much needed improvements to John O’Groats.
His hard work for the community will last for many years to come and I send my condolences to his family and friends.
- Rhoda Grant is a Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands.
