There has been a lot of work done by CHAT over the past few weeks. We have met with MSP’s Maree Todd, Rhoda Grant, and Edward Mountain; we have held meetings with senior NHSH staff, and Secretary Maria Aitken, and Vice Chair Iain Gregory had a very useful discussion with the Scottish Human Rights Commission, with another talk to take place soon.
We are convinced that taking a Human rights-based approach to the healthcare issues in Caithness is the way forward, and the ever-helpful and highly professional people at SHRC have undertaken to assist us to gain a fuller understanding of the legislation, which will empower us to drive change forward.
They are also shortly to publish a report on Human Rights issues in the Highlands and Islands, and one of the main topics to be addressed concerns access to healthcare. We look forward to seeing the report, and sharing the links with you.
CHAT, working along with our colleagues in Skye, and Galloway (areas with similar problems to ours), have this week written to MSP’s across Scotland, and to both national and local media, seeking support for our wish to see a Scotland-wide Rural Healthcare Agency being set up, thus ensuring that the needs of patients in “remote and rural” areas receive the best possible access to treatment and care. This follows the petition submitted to the Scottish Parliament Petitions committee in 2023, in which Dr Gordon Baird sought the approval of the Scottish Government to institute such an agency. (Petition number 1845).
There is no doubt – and I do not think that there is any real counter-argument now – that we simply cannot continue with a situation where hundreds of mums-to-be, and thousands of patients annually, have to make the long and dangerous journey to and from Inverness. We have first-class facilities and hugely professional medical staff in Caithness. We need to increase funding, staff levels and facilities – just as is done in the islands.
CHAT will continue to campaign professionally, to work with all stakeholders, and to be the voice for Caithness.
Caithness Health Action Team 