LOCAL NEWS NOVEMBER 27 2023

People facing “impossible choice of heating or eating”

The manager of the Skye and Lochalsh has warned that an increasing number of people could be facing the impossible choice of heating or eating this winter due to cost of living pressures.

Citizens Advice Scotland has today underlined a direct link between unaffordable energy bills and food insecurity.

According to new data released in the charity’s quarterly report, one in six people across Scotland seeking help with food insecurity have also sought advice on utilities, as Skye and Lochalsh CAB manager Morag Hannah explained to Radio Skye today.

“What the cost of living analysis shows is that there is a clear link between the unaffordable energy bills and food poverty,” she said.

“There is one in six people who have come to CAB in the past three months who need help with food, and also they are needing help with their utilities bills.”

Morag Hannah stressed to Radio Skye the current situation was only likely to worsen over the winter: “These are the figures for the summer and early autumn, and it’s more likely that we are going to see these numbers increase.

“And we continue to hear that saying of people are facing the impossible choice or heating or eating this winter.

She added: “The demand for utilities advice is the highest from those from the poorest backgrounds, which underlines the need for targeted support.

“The Autumn Statement was a missed opportunity to deliver that additional support, households already facing real problems will see the price cap for energy bills as well.”

Last week it was confirmed that the energy price cap would increase by £94 on 1 January 2024.

The Quarterly Cost of Living Analysis report also found that 37 per cent of those needing crisis support advice also needed advice related to food banks.

Meanwhile, single parent households are twice as likely to seek utilities advice as they are advice generally. The CAB network also continued to see higher levels of demand for cost-of-living related advice from single, non-pensioner households, and council rented tenants – particularly in areas such as crisis support, food insecurity, debt, and utilities.

The Citizens Advice Bureau is running ‘Worried this winter’ a campaign that encourages people to seek advice if they are worried about energy bills or the cost of living this winter.

People can visit the campaign page to find an option that works for them.

Further highlighting the support, the Skye and Lochalsh CAB, can offer, Morag Hannah told Radio Skye: “It costs nothing to check our advice, and you can end up, hopefully, better off financially.”

The SLCAB free phone number is 0800 028 1456.

For more info on how to contact the Skye and Lochalsh CAB, just click here.

North Skye urgent care to extend to seven days in January 2024

NHS Highland has today announced that a seven-day a week service at the urgent care centre at Portree Hospital will begin in January.

In a statement sent to Radio Skye this morning, a spokesperson for the local health authority said the seven-day service will commence in the first week of January 2024 and will be operational from 8am to 8.30pm, daily.

The spokesperson said that NHS Highland’s plan to extend to the provision to seven days a week by the end of October was always contingent on its Advanced Nurse Practitioners attaining their qualifications to work as autonomous practitioners.

They added that the introduction of the service in January rather than October was due to a combination of sickness absence and delays in completion of qualifications.

Reacting to the announcement, Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnstone said: “Having raised this with the health secretary last week, I’m pleased to see some progress being made.

“However welcome, though, making a promise is not the same as delivering on one.”

Meanwhile, retired Skye paramedic and SOS-NHS Skye group member Neil Campbell said the move was a “step in the right direction” but added that it was “still nowhere near the 24/7 walk in service promised by NHS Highland.”

NHS Highland has stated that it is facing significant staffing challenges across the region and in particular Skye. The spokesperson said that the Skye recruitment group -a joint enterprise between NHS Highland and the Friends of Portree Hospital –  is working hard to influence and positively impact on this.

They said that NHS Highland is continuing to work in partnership with colleagues in Scottish Ambulance to provide additional resilience to the Urgent Care service as well as our local GPs.

And concluded that its priority is to deliver safe and effective care for its patients, and that anything that would compromise this, for example staffing shortages, would be at the forefront of its decisions that may involve any change to service provision.

Skye pop-shop raises £1,200 for children of Gaza

A pop-up shop run by a Skye refugee support group has raised £1,200 to aid the people of Gaza.

The initiative led by the SkyeFugees took place at An Talla Mor at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig College on Friday – 24th November (pictured below).

The sum will be donated to the UNICEF’ Children of Gaza Crisis Appeal.

Mountain accidents survey aims to aid rescue teams

Mountaineering Scotland has launched a survey to assess accidents caused in the mountains to help produced better resources to educate people on safety before venturing into the hills.

The survey is aimed at people who have self-evacuated, or needed help from someone or an organisation. No personal details will be collect and all information provided will be anonymous.

The organisation said it hopes that the information gathered will lead to better education resources and ultimately, less pressure on the mountain rescue teams and the loved ones of those involved.

West is best as Skye side break their Highland league duck

North West Skye coach Paul Rees has praised his side’s collective will to win as “outstanding” following the club’s first-ever victory in the Highland Youth Development League in Portree on Sunday.

The islanders, who are playing their maiden season in the regional competition, opened the scoring through a penalty by Ross MacLeod to lead Inverness Athletic at half-time.

North West Skye scored a further two goals to increase their advantage to three by the hour-mark thanks to a brace from man-of-the-match Ruari Preston.

The Highland capital club struck twice to narrow the deficit to just one goal, but the Skye side held firm to earn their first points and win of the campaign.

Commenting after their victory, coach Paul Rees said: “It was more than deserved.

“For this afternoon’s performance, but also for the commitment and togetherness the lads have shown all along so far this season.”

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