LOCAL NEWS 23 MAY 2023

Skye key health care worker left with “no choice” but to leave NHS

A key Skye healthcare worker with over 10 years experience has left the NHS for a job in hospitality after her request for more hours was allegedly rejected by health service

Anne Marie Ferguson, who lives in Staffin, worked as an occupational therapist on Skye for a decade helping patients discharged from both Broadford and Portree Hospital.

Ms Ferguson, pictured, worked 25 hours a week covering patients from Kilmuir in north Skye to Glenelg.

Speaking to Radio Skye, she said her request to increase her hours for 25 hours per week to 37 to meet the demands of her job and managed increased cost of living was rejected leaving her with no option but to find another job.

Radio Skye contacted NHS Highland about the matter, but were still awaiting for a response as we went to broadcast on Tuesday’s Dol Dhachaigh.

Children and mental health services in Highlands at risk due to job vacancies 

The delivery of children’s services and mental health provision across the Highlands is at considerable risk, according to a new report outlined by the region’s local authority.

The Highland Council’s children services department is facing a 41 per cent vacancy rate in staffing, while mental health officer provision vacancies currently stand at 35 per cent.

A report outlining the stark risks to the services was presented to member of the council’s health, social care, and wellbeing committee last Thursday.

Chair of the Health, Social Care & Wellbeing Committee, Councillor David Fraser said the reality of the situation was equally sobering and concerning,

However, he commended the health and social care teams for maintaining safe levels of practice and high standards amid constrained resources and a fall in the workforce.

Members have asked that the council’s audit and scrutiny, which will meet on 15th June, to consider include the matter on the corporate risk register, which will ensure the risk and burden does not sit on the shoulders of staff.

Skye and Lochalsh CAB gains £1 million in support for those in need

The Skye & Lochalsh Citizens Advice Bureau has delivered a total of almost £1 million to local people who came to it for help in the last financial year.

The local charity says it helped its clients gain the cash in unclaimed benefits, with-held wages, compensation and other types of financial gain between April 2022 and April 2023

Over the past year the SLCAB staff dealt with more than 6000 client contacts and gave more than 8000 pieces of advice.

Skye and Lochalsh CAB manager, Morag Hannah said that the cost of living crisis is pushing household budgets to breaking point, but stressed that the bureau was there to help.

People can get advice from their local CAB through it website or through interactive tools like money map.

CalMac CEO apologises for new booking system issues

Ferry operator CalMac has today apologised to customers for issues on its new booking and ticketing system which launched last week.

The transport company said that several issues were experienced since the launch of the ticketing platform last week, but has sought to reassure customers that the problems will be resolved.

CalMac is also working through network disruption and reduced capacity on some sailings, booked customers are being offered new sailings where possible, or refunds.

Robbie Drummond, Chief Executive of CalMac, said he was sorry for any inconvenience caused to customers since the launch of our new platform thank them for their continued patience and support.

He added that CalMac teams were working around the clock and they would continue to respond to customer enquiries as quickly as possible and communicate updates through its usual channels.

News by Adam Gordon.

You can listen to the latest local news for Skye and Lochalsh at the times below by clicking on the banner. 👇