NHS Highland Public Meeting About changes To Caithness Health Services

8th June 2015

The John O'Groat Journal editorial on Friday 5th June asks that everyone interested in health services in Caithness should turn up to the meeting in the Pentland hotel on Tuesday 9th June 2015. The meeting starts at 7.00pm.

The changes to surgical cover and the many shortage of staff and the failure of NHS Highland to recruit will be explained.

The proposals to reduce cover and the reductions in place already are highlighted in the John O'Groat Journal who have in recent month been running their items under the Save Our Surgeons banner.

If you think this is a rerun of the infamous attempts to down grade maternity services at Caithness General then you might make note of the comparisons.

The same arguments appear to be being brought out again but added to that the stealth cuts being put in place due to staff shortages but not announced to the public would seem to suggest the Health board are trying a different approach to get things done by the back door.

People in Caithness have not been slow in the past to defeat those in control of our health services eg - Maternity at Caithness General Hospital in Wick, Dunbar Hospital closure in Thurso, Pharmacy services in Castletown area.

NHS Highland say they have consulted widely and spoken to councilors and community groups. If you missed all of this then go along to Pentland hotel On Tuesday 9th June at 7.00pm - probably standing room only. At Castletown the public meeting was queued way down the street and who remembers the maternity march in Wick.