CHAT Chairman, Ron Gunn, has been quoted in the online John O’Groat Journal today, saying that “the appointment of a locum consultant psychiatrist from outwith the county is “not an ideal situation”.

Ron said that the previous Locum Consultant did not have her contract renewed, something he found hard to understand, especially as she had been based locally. He made it clear that it is essential to have “face to face” appointments for patients who have mental health issues, and he also spoke of the lengthy queues for appointments.

There is no doubt that people who are living with such conditions must have access to the appropriate treatment, and it needs to be available quickly.

Separately, there was a slot on Moray Firth Radio today discussing the very high number of “Concern for Welfare” Incidents which Police Scotland have attended at CGH in the years 2018 to 2022. Starting in 2018 and ending in 2022 the numbers are 4 / 5 / 6 /7 /14 so a very noticeable increase – 3.5 times the number in 2022 compared to 2018.

Similar incidents occurring on the Kessock Bridge rose from an already deeply concerning 78 in 2018, to a horrifying 203 in 2022.

There are several categories of data, obtained via FOI requests, but, as another example, police officers in Highlands and Islands Division attended no less than 601 calls in this category in December 2022 alone. The officers do a superb job, but they are now picking up such “distress calls” as there is nobody else to do so. This should not be the case.

If we needed evidence that a Mental Health crisis exists, surely this is it? Each of those statistics represents a person – a person in dire straits and in need of medical help – and ongoing support.

It is essential that we have the staff – and the facilities – in place to make sure that help can be given swiftly and face to face.

CHAT will continue to campaign and to highlight these concerns, and we can only hope that adequate funding can be found to greatly strengthen the MH teams – they need the money and they need our support.

CHAT works closely with health campaigners from Dumfries and Galloway, and from Skye, where mums face similar issues to us in accessing healthcare. We maintain – and we are right – that mums and babies have clear and unequivocal human rights, which should in no way be eroded simply because we live in an area which our centralised system regards as “rural and remote”. We certainly didn’t used to be………………

Here is the text of an excellent post on the CHAT FB page, which also has a link to a TV interview with a very brave young woman, Claire Fleming, who tells a harrowing and distressing story of loss, and her awful experiences.

“This brave mum from Dumfries and Galloway tells her upsetting story. Mums in Caithness, and their partners, have very similar stories to tell. It is time for the Scottish Government to take action to quickly address these issues which “remote and rural” communities are currently experiencing.

Time to face up to realities Human Rights in Childbirth Humza Yousaf NHS Highland “remote and rural” mums, partners and their families matter. Action is needed now!

Childbirth over 100 miles away, no clean hygienic toilets, dangerous roads with deer, landslides, road blocked due to accidents, weather conditions or trees blocking roads, newborn babies being held in car seats for over two hours, travel payment policies that are unfair, unclear and unreasonable, centralisation of vital health services to over 100 miles away, and through stealth with no consultation or consideration of the impact for communities. Womens health plan is failing “remote and rural” communities …

#100milestoofar

https://www.facebook.com/angela.shiells/videos/1081751179532501

An interesting clip from the Groat, dated July 24, 1998. Caithness and Sutherland NHS Chairman, George Bruce, expressed his fears of what might happen if local control was lost. And here we are, a quarter of a century later, and it would seem that Mr Bruce’s predictions were totally accurate……………………

A really excellent news story broadcast last night on Channel Four, in which our friends from the North Highland Women’s Wellness Hub did a tremendous job in highlighting the issues faced by women living in Caithness.

There is no doubt that the team have worked really hard to get this very valuable publicity, and – once again – dedicated volunteers have achieved a result. Here is the link:-

https://www.channel4.com/news/the-struggle-for-womens-healthcare-in-the-scottish-highlands

Once again, great work!

Today’s Caithness Courier has given great coverage to the meeting held last Saturday at Caithness General Hospital when we had a very constructive meeting with the most senior figures in NHS Highland.

The headline said “Role Reversal would lead to public outcry” – and what we meant was that if things were the the way round, and patients / expectant mums from Inverness were asked to travel the long and torturous road from Inverness to Wick – then there would be an absolute national media frenzy. It is quite reasonable therefore to point out that Caithness mums and patients have to do exactly that, and it isn’t good enough.

Here is a brief summary of what was said at the meeting, which lasted about two hours.

As well as CHAT members, also in attendance were Claire Clark, Kirsteen Campbell, and Rebecca Wymer, from North Highland Womens Wellness Hub, (NHWWH) as well as members of the public who shared their lived experiences of issues.

Sarah Compton-Bishop, Chair of NHS Highland; the outgoing Chief Executive, Pamela Dudek, and the new Chief Officer for Health and Social Care,, Pamela Cremin, represented NHSH.

Ron Gunn, CHAT Chairman, introduced the meeting, and spoke of the “Greatly improved relationship with NHSH now enjoyed by CHAT” and said that he believed that “Positive steps had been taken, and it was important to develop and build on this”. He mentioned the “Day of Action” taken by CHAT not long after its foundation, and provided a brief history of the group, up to the present day.

Ms Dudek responded by saying that “Working together is very important, thereby optimising results” and said that the “commitment from NHSH is there”.

Iain Gregory provided a further resume in relation to CHAT’S vital work for the people of Caithness, and said that “There was an overwhelming need for CHAT to be recognised as an equal partner, with a “seat at the top table” in all matters relating to Healthcare in the Far North”. He also said that “If the current situation were to be reversed and 94% of Inverness mums were required to undergo a torturous and hazardous 100 mile plus journey to Caithness to give birth, there would be a public outcry”. He concluded by saying that “Action is needed now before a tragedy occurs”.

Secretary Maria Aitken spoke strongly about the entire situation in relation to Maternity, making it very clear that “The present situation is simply neither acceptable nor sustainable”. She pointed out that “In 2022 only eight (8) babies had been born in the county to Caithness mums, with no less than 202 mothers being obliged to travel over 100 miles to Inverness to have their babies”. She also mentioned the “High level of Inductions and Caesareans” undergone by local mothers. Mrs Aitken’s very extensive knowledge of the subject was such that she was able to provide an “extremely clear and comprehensive” account to the meeting, emphasising the “Distress and worry caused to so many young mothers, with some unwilling to have another child due to their experiences”.

She also raised the question of travelling expenses for patients who were required to go to and from Raigmore for procedures and clinical consultations, and she will be submitting a full report on this subject to NHS Highland.

The members of NHWWH also spoke passionately and comprehensively, as did other contributors to the meeting, covering a number of health-related topics, with a very clear message being given to the Chair and Senior NHSH members, regarding the need for action.

The meeting – which was professional and conducted in a spirit of cooperation, concluded with a firm assurance from NHSH that cooperation and working together was very important, a sentiment strongly endorsed by CHAT. Mr Gunn concluded the meeting by thanking all the attendees and emphasising that he looked forward to “moving forward to achieve the very best outcomes for Caithness”

Worth accessing the Caithness Courier – an excellent article, and the publicity is very much appreciated.

CHAT members are meeting shortly – in Caithness – with Sarah Compton-Bishop, Chair of NHS Highland Board, as well as the outgoing Chief Executive, Pamela Dudek, and Pamela Cremin, the Interim Chief Officer.

This is an ideal opportunity for us to really state the case for Caithness and we fully intend to do so.

Simply because we live in what is classed as a “remote / rural” area does not mean that we should be disadvantaged, and we must continue to make it crystal clear that we will not allow this to happen. The expression “Clinical Peripherality” was mentioned recently. We know what that means, but of course “peripherality” all depends on where the “centre” is, doesn’t it? Centralisation in Healthcare, as in so many things, never, ever, has positive benefits for those of us living a long way from the “centre”.

Rest assured that we will make things very clear at the meeting, but the best possible evidence tends to come from people who have been personally affected – we are looking for a mum to speak at the meeting, who has given birth in Raigmore and had to go back down to Inverness as her baby had Jaundice. Can you help?

Please email info@caithnesshealth.com or private message.

We will provide a full report, and a media release after the meeting.

Thank you for supporting CHAT.

MP Jamie Stone has delivered a damning indictment of the current Maternity Model in Caithness, in a hard-hitting article in the Caithness Courier today (081123).

Referring to the Scottish Government’s “Best Start” scheme, he said that the situation faced by mums in Caithness was a “recipe for tragedy” and added that “I certainly would not call this the “Best Start”. I would call this Medieval”.

He goes on to say – echoing exactly what CHAT maintain – that we need a system based on the “Orkney Model”, thus allowing the majority of mothers to give birth in Caithness, with only a minority then having to endure the journey to Raigmore. He also speaks of a “severe and dangerous neglect of the Highlands”

Chair, Ron Gunn, also speaks out strongly, emphasising also the issues with the A9 and the dangers if it is closed – something which has happened several times recently.

It is almost beyond belief that CHAT has to fight constantly to secure the basic human rights of mothers, newborn babies, and many other patients in Caithness, to secure their basic human rights – but rest assured that CHAT will continue to do just that.