Rural families reveal fears for children’s health

Families fear for their children’s health following a reduction of a specialist service in one of Scotland’s most remote areas.

Access to a community paediatrician for children in Caithness has been cut from three times a week to just a few times a month.

NHS Highland says the service has been cut because of a staff shortage – and that it has struggled to recruit a locum.

Last month, The Sunday Post revealed growing concerns over health provision in the Highlands.

An official report revealed how death rates among children aged one to 19 had shown a “visible deterioration” since 2015.

Campaigner Maria Aitken, of Caithness Health Action Team, said: “We are having local services continually stripped from Caithness and located centrally in Raigmore hospital in Inverness.

“Paediatrics is one such service but these children have significant needs and are waiting sometimes up to two years to get assessed.”

Wick GP Dr Ewen Pearson said: “Many services in remote and rural areas are being cut or decreased.

“Orthodontics is only in Inverness and many kids from Caithness have multiple long journeys and time off school.”

Last night, NHS Highland said there had been no change in policy on community paediatrics – but a worker had been ill.