Islanders urged to use 999 number

MULL and Iona residents should always call 999, rather than use the NHS 24 Scotland service, members of Mull Community Council heard at its July meeting.

Councillors were told the story of one woman who dialled NHS 24 for her daughter and was told to meet the doctor in the community hospital in Java, Craignure.

It turned out the doctor and patient each had to make the 90-minute round trip when they only lived five minutes apart in Tobermory.

Community council chairman Billy McClymont said: ‘NHS 24 doesn’t work here. I would advise anyone who needs to see a doctor out of hours to call 999. The more people who phone and use the service, the higher the likelihood is that we will get the service to meet our demands.’