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North Action Group Joined By
Politicians To Hear Board Consultation Proposals
Another board member requested that submissions to the consultation should be published as they were received so that everyone could see them. This was agreed subject to getting permission from the people who sent submissions. Also agreed was the fact that there would be public meetings and smaller forums where local people could give their views. Mr Coutts said that although this might not be possible in every area they would try to cover as many as they could.
“I look forward to reading the report from Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the economic and social issues relating to Caithness. It is my opinion that good local public services underpin economic activity and act as a catalyst to encourage inward investment and more jobs. If the economy of Caithness is to be grown, this will depend on the maintenance of good hospital and community health services.” There was talk amongst the board that perhaps the papers were asking for a gold plated standard that was not always possible in rural areas. Mary Scanlon’s response to this was - ”I do not see the point of constantly talking about 'gold plated' standards of maternity care in Inverness if Mums have to give birth in the back of an ambulance in a lay bye on the Berriedale Braes!.”
'I believe that Malcolm Chisholm must be pinned down as to new funding for training and employing consultants and midwives in sufficient numbers to fully staff the Far North maternity service. He must be challenged to address the unique geography and distances that are the one constant factor. ' The Scottish Government must not fail the Far North. The Highland Health Board can only deliver when it is given the means to solve the problem to the satisfaction of patients and families who are the public it is supposed to serve.'
Caithness Area Convenor David Flear made several points and also referred to the fact that although references had been made by the board to improving communications and transport problems no capital plan of HIAL (Highland and Islands Airports Limited) included the money for instrument landing at Wick airport as had been alluded to previously by the chairman of the board. The improvements in the A9 at Helmsdale would only clip about two minutes of the overall journey time and nothing was as yet included in any plans for the major improvements required at Berriedale that would involve expenditure of many millions of pounds. Mr Coutts rounded up the meeting by saying that all of the points brought up by board members would be addressed and additional papers requested would be provided. North Action Group members are of the opinion that the public have already demonstrated fully their support for the services as they presently stand but will go through the public consultation process as there is no other way forward. It is what comes at the end of that process that the North Action Group will be looking towards and preparing for. NAG will continue to campaign throughout the consultation period and encourage as many individuals, business, voluntary groups and others to make their voice heard during the period of the consultation |
Nigel Hobson speaking for the Health
Board gave an outline of the consultation paper and referred to several
reports used as the basis for much of the thinking behind the choices in
the document. The options included they agreed had come about by pressure
from local people and North Action Group. However although options were
included it was nevertheless felt necessary to include all of the reasons
why the board thought that several options could not work for one reason
or another.
Gary Coutts chairman of the NHS Highland
Health Board offered time to allow some of those present to speak to the
board. The speakers included George Bruce chairman of North Action Group,
David Flear Caithness Convenor who deferred part of his time to Alison
Magee and MSP Jamie Stone. Between them they gave a wide range of
reasons why the board should consider keeping the services of consultants in
the Caithness General Hospital.
MSP Mary Scanlon said she was pleased to
hear the requests from the board for further information and would like to
see a commitment to addressing the concerns about some of the options and
changing options presently scoring badly to being improved. Mary Scanlon
added “The request for all consultation responses to be publicly available
was excellent and I hope that a way can be found to provide this. This
would ensure that the consultation process is indeed open and
transparent.” 
MSP Rob Gibson said “The Health Minister
must give Far North Maternity adequate resources.”
Rob Gibson SNP MSP for Highlands and Islands called on the Highland Health
Board to include Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm in the consultation on
the future of maternity services in Wick agreed in Inverness today.
Speaking after supporting the NAG demonstrators and sitting in on the
Heath Board meeting he said, 'It is obvious that the options most favoured
in Caithness need a full compliment of consultants, midwives, ambulances,
air ambulances, drivers and pilots. In truth the Board cannot deny that
they don't have the cash nor does the ambulance service to meet people's
needs.
MSP Jamie Stone made several pleas in
his request to the board but once again referred to the fact that - “Only
the Lord God almighty can change the geography of the Highlands”