Pressure on Scottish Government to ease hospital staffing crisis

The Scottish Government has been urged to help end a staffing crisis at a highland Perthshire hospital unit.

Health chiefs were forced to restrict opening hours at the minor injuries unit (MIU) of Pitlochry Community Hospital in August last year.

Ongoing difficulties in recruiting new staff mean the unit now closes at 4.30pm on weekdays and cannot open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Perth and Kinross health and social care partnership chief officer Robert Packham has been unable to say when the restrictions will be lifted.

Health secretary Jeane Freeman was quizzed on the issue in the Scottish Parliament by the local Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser.

She said: “We continue to work with NHS Tayside to look at the detail of the problems that it is addressing and to consider whether there are additional measures and steps that it can take to improve its opportunity to recruit the necessary staff and whether it is looking as widely as possible at the appropriate staff mix.

“It is important that members understand that, when we are aware of situations like this one – which has gone on for some time – we get in touch directly with the relevant health board and local health and social care partnership to understand the detail of what they are doing and to suggest ways that have been successful elsewhere that they might consider adopting or additional measures that the government might assist them with.”

Mr Fraser said: “This is a positive sign that the Scottish Government are looking into this matter. I will continue to press for the full reopening of the MIU.

“Highland Perthshire residents have been without this service for too long and as we approach the busier tourist season it will become even more important that it is reinstated.”

Mr Packham confirmed the limited hours would continue until at least the end of this month.