STORM BABET

NHS Highland have issued a weather warning, due to the current severe conditions. They say – sensibly – that if “conditions make it too dangerous for you to travel or you feel unsafe travelling to your appointment, you should…………..phone us to rearrange”. Clearly, good advice, but as CHAT points out:-

“We would like to have seen some specific advice for pregnant women . Some of them will inevitably be travelling on the A9 in labour in terrible conditions, maybe even tonight.

The vast majority of Caithness births happen in Raigmore .The A9 is a dangerous road at the best of times , please take care.

If you have any doubts about the safety of travelling in severe weather conditions contact your midwife and ask for advice”.

AS CHAT correctly says, driving on the A9 south to Inverness (and back) can be hazardous at the best of times, but for a woman in labour, it is wholly unacceptable.

CHAT CHAIR PAYS TRIBUTE TO RETIRING NHS HIGHLAND CHIEF

CHAT CHAIRMAN MR RON GUNN has paid tribute to the NHS Chief Executive Pam DUDEK who is to retire in the new year. In today’s John O Groat Journal (131023) Ron said ” “I am sad to see her go. She was a breath of fresh air when she came in. We met her several times and continue to do so. She is always very happy to listen to the public and what they are are saying. Patient care was a high priority for her. We hope that whoever takes over has the same attitude. ” Ron went on to say “We wish her all the best in the future. She really listened to us and was really keen to try and improve things. We hope her replacement will be able to work with us, too.”

Pam retires in March, 2024.

A9 CLOSURE RISK

The front page of the John O’Groat journal today (131023) reports that Cllr Matthew Reiss has highlighted the dangers we face, dependent as we are on the A9 as our only practical route to and from Inverness. He said:-

“The recent heavy rainfall in Badenoch and further south should, again, remind the Scottish Government that the current route north of Dornoch is, in some areas, unstable, poorly engineered and has inadequate maintenance.

“Ditches at known trouble spots regularly overflow, whilst the narrow bridge at Culgower is an extreme hazard. Landslides have also occurred at Scrabster.

“In my judgement, were we to experience similar rainfall levels to those seen in Badenoch and Lochaber there is a real risk of parts of the road being lost.”

Cllr Reiss has called upon MSP Maree Todd to take the lead in seeking urgent upgrades to this road. Time and again CHAT have said that mothers face huge risks being obliged to travel to and from Raigmore on this torturous route. The time for action on maternity services in the far north, and substantial improvements to the A9 and A99 is long overdue.

Caithness and Sutherland NHS Trust 1994-1999

Please see the final annual report for the Trust. This group had six years of success in building seven new health centres and resources to ensure that healthcare was delivered locally whenever possible.Amazing people who had a vision and commitment ‘to improve the well-being of the people of Caithness and Sutherland by providing the best possible standard and range if heath care services.’