'Stay away' plea by NHS Highland chief
THE chief executive of NHS Highland has issued a "stay away" plea to any visitors who think they can avoid the coronavirus pandemic by travelling to the Highlands and Islands.
Paul Hawkins was speaking after an outcry over reports that people with second homes and campervans had been making their way to the region from other parts of the UK. Scotland's rural economy and tourism secretary Fergus Ewing condemned their actions as "reckless and irresponsible", warning that they were potentially putting unwanted pressure on NHS services in rural communities.
Mr Hawkins said: “As a community we in the Highlands, Argyll and Bute are friendly, welcoming and hospitable to the thousands of visitors we get all year, every year. However, we are currently in a situation that has never been experienced before and for the first time we are making a plea for you to stay away.
“We have heard that there are many people using campervans or motorhomes to make their way to the Highlands and Argyll and Bute as a way to self-isolate during this period. Please don’t.
“National advice is quite clear that we, as a nation, need to stay at home, self-isolate and stop all non-essential travel. This includes using our area as a safe haven.
“We have asked our communities in NHS Highland to do everything they can to stay safe. This includes self-isolating, working from home where possible, and limiting their contact with the outside world.
“Our health and social care staff are also doing everything in their power to protect our patients and our local communities to ensure we are ready for what the next few weeks could bring.
“Having the extra burden of numerous visitors to the area is not going to help us or our local communities. Please, for your own safety and for the safety of our communities, stay at home.”
