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Protest held over remote GP cover in Glenelg and Arnisdale | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A protest has been held outside a health board meeting which considered options for future medical cover for a remote part of the Highlands. | |
A doctor who covered Glenelg and Arnisdale has left for a secondment to the Scottish government and residents fear he will not be replaced. | A doctor who covered Glenelg and Arnisdale has left for a secondment to the Scottish government and residents fear he will not be replaced. |
The NHS Highland meeting deferred making a decision on the options. | |
The Scottish government said any plans should be based on the need to "maintain and improve" the service. | |
Locum GPs have been covering the vacant post since Dr Simon Hurding left in October. | Locum GPs have been covering the vacant post since Dr Simon Hurding left in October. |
NHS Mid Highland Community Health Partnership met on Wednesday to consider options for future cover. | |
People from the communities on the west Highland mainland coast opposite Skye staged a demonstration outside the meeting in Dingwall. | |
The campaigners said they were concerned medical services could eventually be covered by professionals based at other sites. | |
They said it would take a doctor in Broadford, on Skye, or a paramedic stationed in Kyle of Lochalsh, on the mainland, more than an hour to reach Arnisdale. | |
Campaigners have written to Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon asking her to step in to protect their GP service, claiming that she had taken such action previously. | |
A campaign spokesperson said: "The gravity of the situation here is no less serious than it was to warrant the intervention Nicola Sturgeon gave to the Torridon and Applecross communities a few years ago. | A campaign spokesperson said: "The gravity of the situation here is no less serious than it was to warrant the intervention Nicola Sturgeon gave to the Torridon and Applecross communities a few years ago. |
"We have evidence that the data gathered and reports prepared by Mid Highland CHP are far from robust and this is completely unacceptable." | "We have evidence that the data gathered and reports prepared by Mid Highland CHP are far from robust and this is completely unacceptable." |
'Public engagement' | 'Public engagement' |
The Scottish government said it was aware NHS Highland was developing options for future medical service provision for the communities. | The Scottish government said it was aware NHS Highland was developing options for future medical service provision for the communities. |
A spokeswoman added: "Any proposals should be based on the need to maintain and improve the quality of the service provided to local people and on appropriate public engagement. | A spokeswoman added: "Any proposals should be based on the need to maintain and improve the quality of the service provided to local people and on appropriate public engagement. |
"NHS boards are responsible for planning and delivering local services." | "NHS boards are responsible for planning and delivering local services." |
Before the meeting, Alison Phimister, NHS Highland Ross Cromarty and West Ness Locality general manager, said various proposals were being considered by the community health partnership. | |
"Community representatives are involved in all discussions and in the working groups that have been set up to look at primary care in hours and out-of-hours services and at the emergency and immediate care response for the area," she said. | |
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