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Stone calls for UK Government to look at health care in Caithness as 'a matter of absolute urgency'





A PLEA has been made for the new UK Government to look at health care provision in Caithness as "a matter of absolute urgency."

It was made by north MP, Jamie Stone, during an impassioned speech in a debate in the House of Commons this week and he implored the Scottish Government to do what it can to ensure fewer people in the far north have to travel 100 miles to access health services.

Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP, for Caithness, Sutherland and easter Ross, also highlighted the issues facing recruitment and retention of staff in smaller hospitals such as Caithness General, where locums often provide cover for a variety of services including mental health. This can lead to a lack of continuity in patient care, he claimed.

He mentioned the additional cost of locums and said the change of personnel "can be very disadvantageous to the patient".

"In the Highlands of Scotland, this is particularly acute on the mental health front. I’ve heard horror stories of people having to see a variety of different professionals and having to repeat themselves again and again before anything can be done about it. That is extremely worrying."

Jamie Stone wants new UK Government to look at health services in the north. Picture: Jessica Taylor
Jamie Stone wants new UK Government to look at health services in the north. Picture: Jessica Taylor

He pointed out that the consultant-led maternity unit in Wick was downgraded to a midwife-led service in 2016, resulting in many mothers having to travel over 100 miles to Inverness to give birth.

"If you think in the middle of winter, the A9 road blocks, which it does do on occasion, and the air ambulance has been called to a road trip accident somewhere in Moray or in West Sutherland, then what is going to happen? We’re faced with a very dangerous situation indeed."

Mr Stone hopes the dialogue between the Scottish Government and people in Caithness and Sutherland "will eventually be fruitful."

He praised the work done by the Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT), which has been "instrumental in making sure that this issue is never off the top of the agenda."

The MP added: "Every citizen in the United Kingdom should surely deserve an equal right to health services regardless of where you live.

"When it comes to the bottom line, health matters hugely to us all and I do sincerely hope that the new members of the UK Government, in the Cabinet, and junior ministers can look at this as a matter of absolute urgency for the future.

"My telephone is always available, call me up. I will again and again bang the drum on behalf of my constituents in Caithness and Sutherland who deserve better than they are getting at the moment."

CHAT chairman, Ron Gunn, backs the MP's views.
CHAT chairman, Ron Gunn, backs the MP's views.

CHAT chairman, Ron Gunn, "fully supported" the MP's views. "We do feel a bit neglected and forgotten here. I am really delighted Jamie has raised this issue with the new government so early on and if that helps then it would be great. Putting pressure on the Scottish Government could also, hopefully, benefit Caithness and rural areas," he said.

Mr Gunn has no difficulty with the subject being broached at UK level although health is a devolved matter.

"I have no problem with that and am sure patients in Caithness would think the same thing. It is good our MP is raising this in parliament," he added.


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