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Thurso woman says she was 'yelled at' for taking daughter to hospital


By Alan Hendry

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Brenda Garel: 'How many more people are going up there and being turned away?'
Brenda Garel: 'How many more people are going up there and being turned away?'

A worried Thurso woman took her daughter to the town's hospital when the girl suddenly became unwell – only for them to be ordered to leave.

Brenda Garel sought help at Dunbar Hospital's minor injury unit (MIU) after the 15-year-old had to be removed from the nearby high school because she was experiencing extreme dizziness and blurred vision.

Mrs Garel claimed that after stepping inside the hospital they were "yelled at" to stop them entering a waiting area. They were told to go to their GP practice instead.

Although the MIU is officially closed for the time being because of staffing issues, NHS Highland gave an assurance recently that emergency cases would not be turned away.

Mrs Garel said she went to the hospital on Monday morning because she didn't know what was wrong with her daughter – who does not wish to be named – and was "deeply concerned" for her wellbeing.

"I was supporting her because she was still extremely dizzy," Mrs Garel explained.

However, she said that inside the hospital they were challenged by a member of staff.

“The first thing that happened is we got yelled at," Mrs Garel said. “Instead of getting medical help we were immediately turned away.

"My daughter was feeling 100 per cent terrible. She was embarrassed, being young. It didn’t embarrass me – I wasn’t worried.

“I said, ‘Well, what are we supposed to do?’”

They were advised to go to their local GP surgery.

She took daughter to their medical practice, Riverbank, and they were given an appointment for Tuesday morning.

Mrs Garel said: "How many more people are going up there and being turned away?

“I wanted to get her medically seen. She was still feeling very faint. It could have been anything – I was scared she’d get out of the car and collapse.

“In all honesty, my daughter could have been having a heart attack up there.”

The Dunbar MIU has been shut for two years and Mrs Garel would like to see it being reopened as soon as possible.

She added: "Is Dunbar a hospital or merely a care home? If it's a hospital, why did no-one help? If it's merely a care home, why is it not labelled as such?

“Where do the people of Thurso and surrounding area go to get help and support in medical situations that could potentially be emergencies?

"The next nearest hospital is a 30-minute drive. What if private transport is not an available option for that individual?

"We need that place up and running for the people of Caithness."

Councillor Matthew Reiss raised concerns at the end of last year after noticing that MIU signs outside Dunbar Hospital had been covered up.
Councillor Matthew Reiss raised concerns at the end of last year after noticing that MIU signs outside Dunbar Hospital had been covered up.

In December, NHS Highland acknowledged that the unit had been closed longer than originally planned, as a result of the pandemic and staffing problems. But it insisted MIU provision remained part of its Caithness healthcare redesign plans.

Highland councillor Matthew Reiss raised concerns after noticing that MIU signs outside the hospital had been covered up. He felt this sent "a worrying message" to the community.

In January, Councillor Reiss was told by Christian Nicolson, the health board's district manager for Caithness, that in covering the signs "the aim was to prevent avoidable 'walk-ins' at the unit, particularly by visitors to the area", and that should someone with an injury turn up at the door "staff will do all they can to help and support".

A spokesperson for NHS Highland said: "We are sorry Mrs Garel and her daughter did not get the service they expected. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this directly with her and would ask that she get in touch with us.

"The minor injury unit was temporarily closed in March 2020 due to staff shortages and moving some of the team to the Covid assessment centre in Wick. That specialist Covid facility is still in operation and the advanced skills of the team working there are very much still required.

"We have been actively advertising and trying to recruit for a number of months with some recent success, although there remain vacant posts which we continue to recruit to.

"This is not a challenge that is unique to Caithness but is a challenge across the country. We are working hard to re-establish the Rural Support Team who would support the MIU overnight. That work continues.

"The closure of the MIU is temporary. The ongoing pandemic, as well as our staffing challenges, has resulted in the closure being longer than we originally planned for. However, the provision of an MIU for the area is part of the Caithness redesign plans and that has not changed.

"If you think you need to visit a minor injury unit, you should call NHS24 on 111. NHS24 can help you get the right care in the right place – they are available day or night. If it is a life-threatening emergency, such as a heart attack or a stroke, you should phone 999."


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