MSP raises Portree emergency service fear with First Minister

A DAY after seeking assurances from Scotland’s First Minister about emergency care provision at Portree Hospital, Kate Forbes MSP met with SOS Skye campaigners in Portree.

Growing fears over the longterm future of Portree Hospital were raised with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon by Ms Forbes during First Minister’s QuesSNP tions in the Holyrood chamber – with the Skye politician saying she will not be satisfied with anything less than a robust emergency service at the hospital.

In response, Nicola Sturgeon said Health Secretary Shona Robison had received commitments from NHS Highland ‘that out-of-hours cover and emergency cover at Portree Hospital are remaining’ and the health board must ‘meaningfully engage with local stakeholders’.

Ms Forbes said: ‘Over the summer, admissions were closed and there was the recent temporary suspension of out-of-hours care. As a result, fears have continued to grow among residents about emergency care provision.’

Last Friday, the constituency MSP for Skye spent an hour and a half listening to and fielding questions from a 40-strong group. Ms Forbes expressed her dismay that the experiences described by scores of her constituents did not match NHS Highland’s assurances and promised to summarise constituents’ concerns in a letter to Shona Robison.

Kate Forbes MSP explained: ‘I was pleased to ask the First Minister for assurances about the long-term future of Portree Hospital at First Minister’s Questions and I am grateful for her answer that emergency cover will continue. But after speaking to scores of my constituents on Skye, the experience of those using services at Portree Hospital does not appear to match the assurances given by NHS Highland.’

The Skye MSP continued: ‘After a day of meetings and listening to my constituents, it is clear to me is no-one seems to know what out-of-hours and emergency care provision exists.

‘Some people say emergency cover in Portree ceases at 6pm, others told me 11pm. This demonstrates a lack of meaningful communication from NHS Highland with the local community. Regrettably, this has been a continual theme over the past few years and it has eroded what little goodwill and trust was left in management decisions. This is not about the redesign, this is not a north versus south debate, this is about an entire region of the island which is unsure what provision there is at their local hospital.’