Clarity sought on Caithness health infrastructure amid NHS capital review
Far North MSP David Green has called for healthcare infrastructure plans for Caithness - including the refurbishment of Caithness General Hospital and the development of health hubs - be prioritised within Scotland’s NHS capital programme.
The intervention comes after the Health Secretary told MSPs at Holyrood that the Scottish Government would rebalance investment and “deliver on other NHS capital projects that are priorities for communities across our country.”
The Caithness Health and Social Care redesign programme has undergone extensive development and consultation as part of NHS Highland’s long-term intent to meet the need to modernise healthcare delivery across the Far North.
Central to these plans are the refurbishment of Caithness General Hospital and the creation of new Community Health Hubs in Wick and Thurso. These projects are designed to strengthen community healthcare provision and improve integration between health and social care.
However, despite remaining within NHS Highland’s strategic plans, the projects have remained on ice for a number of years and were omitted in the Health Secretary’s statement to Parliament on 27 June. This has raised concerns that the Far North may continue to lose out against national infrastructure prioritisation.
Mr Green is seeking clarity projects remain active priorities within the NHS capital programme, that they will be considered for progression in the next phase of investment decisions, and that rural healthcare infrastructure will not be disadvantaged as national capital priorities are rebalanced.
Caithness Sutherland and Ross MSP David Green said: “The redesign of health and social care in Caithness has been years in the making and is central to how services are intended to operate in the Far North going forward.
“The refurbishment of Caithness General Hospital and the development of the Wick and Thurso Community Health Hubs are essential to delivering modern, integrated healthcare in our part of the world area where geography has a real impact on access to services.
“These are not optional upgrades - they are fundamental to reducing pressure on acute services and ensuring healthcare is delivered closer to home. It is therefore essential that these projects remain priorities and are taken forward without further delay.”
Councillor Ron Gunn, Chair of Caithness Health Action Team, added: “After years of consultation and extensive public engagement on NHS Highland's health redesign programme, we were finally on the home straight when the Scottish Government paused the project.
“The community was really looking forward to benefiting from the new facilities, which would have significantly improved healthcare services across the north.
“We are now left in a position where there is no certainty about when - if ever - these projects will be delivered.
“It is essential that our communities receive reassurance that these vital developments will proceed and that the improved healthcare services they were promised will become a reality.”
ENDS.