LOCAL NEWS JUNE 19 2024

  Urgent care: SOS-NHS Skye to meet health board

Island healthcare group SOS-NHS Skye are set to meet with senior figures from NHS Highland tomorrow to discuss plans for 24/7 urgent care in north Skye.

The Highland health board chief executive Fiona Davies, deputy medical director Claire Copland, and nurse director Louise Bussell will meet with representatives of the island pressure group at Portree Hospital at 1.30 on Thursday afternoon.

The meeting follows on from NHS Highland submission of a proposal for urgent care at Portree Hospital to the Scottish Government on 24th May

SOS-NHS Skye have said that it is essential that the health board’s plan sees urgent care open 24/7 as a walk-in service with no requirement to call NHS 24 and that this is implemented within weeks.

NHS Highland has informed Radio Skye that Thursday meeting is invite only and that no representative from the local health authority will be available for interviews after the meeting.

Dunvegan Show 2024 cancelled

One of the biggest annual events on Skye, the Dunvegan Show has been cancelled, organisers have confirmed.

On Tuesday, the organisers said that due to several factors working against them the committee has taken the decision to cancel the show for this year.

The Dunvegan Show is held by the Durinish and Bracadale Agricultural Association and celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2018.

Depopulation risks outlined by Highland MSP

Highland MSP Jamie Halcro Johnstone has called on the Scottish Goverment to urgently address key issues increasing the risk of depopulation in rural and island communities.

The Highland and Islands member has cited the reinstatement of 24/7 care at Portree Hospital, the difficulty of accessing GP and dentist appointments and the poor conditions of roads as crucial matters.

The Conservative members said that for people to be able stay in rural and island communities, or to move themselves and their families into these areas, they must be able to have confidence that they will be able to access reliable health services and, when needed, emergency services that respond quickly.

He added that good transport links were also vitally important and that local roads were often riddled with potholes or in a shocking state of deterioration.

Forbes to lead debate on growing the economy

Kate Forbes is set to lead a debate at Holyrood today on the Scottish Government’s priorities for growing the economy.

Skye and Lochalsh’s MSP is expected to highlight Scotland’s abundant natural resources and talent base and argue that there are new opportunities within the transition to net zero and the digital revolution.

She was also that the parliament recognises that the country’s track record of innovation is translated into new businesses and improvements in productivity in all sectors of the economy.

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