Re-opening of Uig Harbour hit by delay
The re-opening of Uig Harbour is set to be delayed by five days due to outstanding critical works at the Skye port.
The Highland Council announced today – Tuesday 28th November – that the harbour will reopen on Saturday 16th December rather than the scheduled date of Monday 11th December.
The council have said the decision was taken in consultation with its contractor RJ McLeod, and partners Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), Transport Scotland and CalMac.
The local authority said that the progress of the redevelopment had been hampered by Storms Ciaran and Debi which has resulted in delays to the removal of the existing fender system and installation of the new fenders.
The chair of the council’s economy and infrastructure committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “While alternative plans require to be extended for a further short period, this will enable the works to be completed safely and to a high standard.”
Dunvegan play park bid receives £30,000 boost
A community project to build a new play park in Dunvegan has received a significant boost through £30,000 allocated by Highland Councillors in the Eilean a’ Cheò ward.
The Dunvegan Community Park project is being led by a sub-committee of the Dunvegan Community Trust.
The play park group said it was delighted to receive the boost to go towards its fundraising efforts which moves it a step closer towards its goal.
To date it has fundraised £4,000 through events and community support, while the group is set to launch a crowd funding campaign this week. The Dunvegan Community Trust has made an application to the Community Regeneration Fund.
The total cost of the park is estimated at around £180,000,
Skye school worker questions Unison pay deal
A pupil support assistant on Skye has expressed her disappointment with Unison’s acceptance of a pay deal from COSLA and said she was prepared to fight on for a fair offer.
Unison member Amy McNab (pictured left) works as a PSA at Portree Primary School. She has been one among hundreds of school and nursery workers across the country who has taken strike action in protest at the pay offer to non-teaching staff by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).
However, on Monday the Unison union announced that more than two thirds of its members had voted to accept to accept the latest pay deal.
The pay package, which will increase the wages of its lowest paid employees by £2,000 a year, is materially the same offer as proposed before the strike action which took place in September and November.
However, it now includes the backdating of a pay rise to April for all staff rather than some, and a firm committment to achieving a minimum rate of pay of £15 per hour for all local government workers by 1st April 2026,
Reacting to the vote, Skye PSA Amy McNab told Radio Skye – full comment below – that she was frustrated at the outcome and had voted against the offer.
Meanwhile, COSLA resources spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann said: “Throughout this challenging process, we have listened carefully to our trade unions, met all their asks, and worked with Scottish Government to put an incredibly strong half a billion pound pay package forward.
“For the sake of everyone in our local government workforce, who are delivering essential frontline services, I am pleased that the pay offer has now been accepted by all of our trade union colleagues.”
Highlands MSP to “keep up pressure” on NHS Highland
Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has pledged to keep up the pressure on NHS Highland until services are fully restored at Portree Hospital.
The Highlands and Islands representative’s comments follow NHS Highland’s announcement that the urgent care service at the Skye capital facility will extend to seven days a week from the first week in January 2024.
Reacting to the news, Mr Halcro Johnston said: “I raised the lack of seven-day-a-week urgent care cover at Portree only last week with the heath secretary, and so I welcome news that some progress has been made.
“This is a step in the right direction, however, making a promise is not the same a delivering on it. There can be no complacency.”
He went on to stress: “The campaign has experienced too many false dawns already, and so I will keep up the pressure until I see services fully restored and the community’s needs are met”.
Gaelic language plan “vital” says health chair
The chair of NHS Highland has said its news five-year Gaelic language is crucial to the communities across the region.
Under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005, NHS Highland has a statutory duty to play its part in promoting the language.
NHS Highland Chair, Sarah Compton-Bishop, said: “It is vital we raise awareness for the Gaelic language as it is an intrinsic part of the rich culture of the Scottish Highlands.
“As the biggest employer in Highland, Argyll and Bute there are many opportunities and benefits to promoting the Gaelic language across our area.
She added: “The plan will enhance patient experience for our Gaelic speakers across NHS Highland, as well as the patients we serve from the Western Isles.”
Dunvegan and Glengarry elect new community councillors
Eight candidates has been selected to serve on Dunvegan Community Council following the results of an election which was declared on Monday by the Highland Council
In total 224 postal votes were returned from an electorate of 503, which represents a 44.5 per cent return.
The members who were voted in are: Mandy Boswell, Donna Campbell, Sarah MacAskill, Lana Macintosh, Phillipa MacRae, Sylvia Meyer, Laura Shirley and Tim Wallis.
Meanwhile, Glengarry’s community council has also be established following a postal vote.
Overall, 211 votes were returned from a possible 341, which accounts for a return of 61.9 per cent.
A total of eight members were elected with Kevin Sutherland polling the highest number of votes at 150.
You can listen to the latest local news for Skye and Lochalsh live at the times below by clicking on the banner. 
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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Skye health chair seeks answers from MSP on urgent care
The chair of SOS-NHS Skye has today (Friday 24th November) called on Kate Forbes to provide answers on the future of urgent care in the north of the island.
Fay Thomson, who leads the island pressure group, said it was up to Skye’s MSP to find a resolution to the uncertainty surrounding the provision – which was expect to extend to a seven-day service this month.
In June, a spokesperson for NHS Highland told Radio Skye that the urgent care provision would be extended to seven days a week from November with support from the Rural Support Team and Broadford Hospital.
However, with December just a week away, urgent care is currently open across just four days a week, while the local health authority has yet to confirm a date for the extension of the service.
Speaking to Radio Skye today, Fay Thomson said that islanders were tired of being involved in a cycle of meetings and went on to accused NHS Highland of breaking promises.
Kate Forbes said she shared SOS-NHS Skye’s frustration that not all recommendations in Sir Lewis Ritchie’s report have been delivered and they are still reactively battling to restore critical cover at Portree Hospital (pictured above.)
The former finance secretary said she was hugely grateful for the efforts of existing staff on the ground, and said that Advanced Nurse Practitioners completing their training should make a difference.
She also said she “hoped Sir Lewis’ recent report would have ensured that the matter of urgent care for North Skye would have been a top priority for the NHS Highland board – and said we are all seeking answers from the health board on this critical issue.”
Responding to Kate Forbes SOS-NHS Skye’s chair said it was incumbent on the MSP to get to the bottom of the situation.
Radio Skye has approached NHS Highland for comment on the service and are awaiting a response.
The SOS-NHS Skye meeting will be held on Monday (27th November) at 7pm at the Church of Scotland hall on York Drive in Portree.
Police from the Highlands and Islands Division are working to trace the next of kin for a Northern Irish man, who was found dead in accommodation in Drumnadrochit on Monday 9th October.
Henry Malceed Stewart, 67, who was originally from Belfast, had been staying and travelling between Inverness and Northern Ireland.
The police said there are no suspicious circumstances relating to his death.
Officers have been unable to establish his next of kin since then and are asking anyone who may be able to assist to get in touch.
Anyone who may be able to help can call 101, quoting reference 0298 of 9 October, 2023.
Skye Live co-founder leads tributes to Niteworks
The co-founder of Skye Live has paid tribute to Niteworks following the band’s announcement that next year’s gigs will their final shows.
Allan MacDonald, Christopher Nicolson, Innes Strachan and Ruairidh Graham set up Niteworks on Skye when they were 17, and have gone to cultivate a reputation as trailblazers in Gaelic music, forging traditional and electronic elements to great effect.
The band have entertained fans across Scotland, the UK, and Europe, and made their mark globally by performing at Edinburgh famous Hogmanay Party.
In a statement released via its social channels, Niteworks (pictured above) said they had made the decision with a heavy heart but it had never been a full-time venture for them.
They described their time playing together since the age of 17 as a blast and said never in their wildest dreams could they imagine where the band would have taken them.
Band members Allan, Chris, Innes and Ruairidh, said they had now reached a point in their lives where they have a few more responsibilities than when we started.
Speaking to Radio Skye, Skye Live co-founder Niall Munro praise Niteworks for their impact and influence on the island and beyond.
He said: “I’m a sure a lot of people feel sad.
“They have been a huge part of the traditional music scene over the last 10 years and a key player and feature of Skye Live from day one up until last year’s event.
“They will for sure leave a legacy behind. They’ve opened traditional music up to a whole new demographic through their fusion of genres, and that has been incredible to see – it’s been great to see them inspire so much of the younger generation.”
Niteworks will perform a small run of select shows in 2024 and said they would love to see as many fans at them as possible for one more dance.
They added that they had a huge amount of people to thank, and without the incredible support of their fans, none of this would ever have been possible.
Skye captain named Scotland’s top player
The newly crowned top shinty player in Scotland has spoken about her surprise at being named the country’s outstanding talent for the 2023 season.
Skye Camanachd Captain Caitlin MacLean (pictured below) was chosen as the Mowi National Division Player Of The Year at the Women’s Camanachd Association’s end of season awards.
Caitlin led Skye ladies to success in the Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup Final, where they defeat holders and fierce rivals Badenoch in the semi finals before overcoming Glasgow Mid Arygll to triumph in the showpiece.
Reacting to the award win, Caitlin MacLean, who also captains the Scotland international team, said she was surprised and humbled.
Looking ahead to 2024, the islander said that Skye had their sights on trying not only to retain the Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup but also on wresting the league championship away from Badenoch.
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North Skye urgent care under the spotlight
The provision of urgent for north Skye is set come under the spotlight at First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood today.
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston will ask about the service which was expected to increase to seven days this month.
Since August this year, the urgent care service based at Portree Hospital has been operational from 8am until 8.30pm four days a week, on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Mr Halcro Johnstone will ask the cabinet secretary to tell him and his constituents in north Skye “when they will get this vital service back in Portree – for 7 days a week – as they have been promised?”
In an update in early November, a spokesperson for NHS Highland told Radio Skye that its team are continuing to work towards establishing a seven-day service.
However, they said that was dependent on a number of factors, including having sufficient staff who are able to deliver care at an advanced level.
Generation Game fundraiser to honour Harris
Emergency services personnel from across Skye and Lochalsh are joining forces to raise funds for a specialist piece of equipment to aid children living with cancer across the Highlands.
Workers from the local fire brigade, police, ambulance service and the local hospital are holding a Generation Game style event at Kyleakin village hall this Saturday to raise funds for a special pump which allows chemotherapy treatments to be administered out with hospital.
The emergency services members are holding the fundraising in honour of nine-year-old Harris Morrison who has been courageously fighting ill health all his life and was diagnosed with cancer towards the end of 2019.
Harris underwent intensive treatments at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital for close to two years before returning home to Skye in 2021.
Sadly, Harris has has a recurrence of his cancer. Unfortunately there are no treatment options and he is now receiving palliative care.
The organisers of the fundraisers said that Ruth and Peter, Harris’ parents, have been nothing but positive and incredible throughout what has to be the most difficult thing to face as parents.
The funds raised through the Generation Game night will be used to purchase a Computerised Ambulatory Delivery Device (CADD) pump which allows children to attend special occasions and have time at home whilst still receiving treatments via the pump.
It also enables symptom control to be administered at home during the last days of life.
The Generation Game event group are fundraising for Harris pumps that will be available in Raigmore Hospital for children with cancer in the Highland area so it does not have to be borrowed from Aberdeen hospital and will remain a legacy of this brave young boy.
The cost of one pump is £5000 and the group are also seeking donations to its raffle or auction which will be both be drawn on the night
The Generation Game Event will be held at 7pm on Saturday (25th November) at Kyleakin Hall.
Forbes calls for bespoke approach to tackle Highland housing crisis
Kate Forbes is calling for greater flexibility in housing policy rather than a one size fits all approach to tackle the challenges facing people in the Highlands
Speaking during a debate on the housing emergency in Scotland in Holyrood on Wednesday, Skye and Lochalsh’s MSP contended that bespoke solutions were needed to solve the distinct issues affecting people in her constituency.
Ms Forbes also argued that more attention should be paid to organisations like the Communities Housing Trust, which she described as exemplary.
Since being established in 1998, the Communities Housing Trust have worked on more than 120 community-led projects and seek to actively tackle repopulation.
The debate was led by Labour MSP Mark Griffin who has questioned the scale and speed of the Scottish Government’s plans for housing.
The Scottish Government has committed to delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 – with at least 10 per cent in remote, rural and island areas.
However, Mr Griffin has asked that the government set an interim target for 5,500 houses to be completed in rural areas by 2026.
According to figures from the National Statistics Publication for Scotland, there were more than 39,000 homeless applications across the country from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.
The figures represented an increase of nine per cent on the previous year’s figures.
Of those applications more than 32,000 applications were assessed as homeless which accounted for more than 53,000 people – a 10 per cent increase on 2021-22.
Highland has ranked as the sixth highest local authority out of 32 in Scotland for homeless applications from 2019 to 2023.
Niteworks’ Farewell: 2024 gigs to band’s last shows
Skye band Niteworks has today announced that 2024 will be their final year as a band.
In a statement released today via its socials, the band said they had made the decision with a heavy heart but it had never been a full-time venture for them.
They described their time playing together since the age of 17 as a blast and said never in their wildest dreams could they imagine where the band would have taken them.
Band members Allan, Chris, Innes and Ruairidh, said they had now reached a point in their lives where they have a few more responsibilities than when we started.
Niteworks will perform a small run of select shows in 2024 and said they would love to see as many fans at them as possible for one more dance.
They added that they had a huge amount of people to thank, and without the incredible support of their fans, none of this would ever have been possible.
Attadale Gardens chosen as Scotland’s best
Attadale Gardens has been announced as Scotland best in a Royal Horticultural Society Competition.
Attadale was chosen as Scotland winner RHS Regional Partner Garden of the Year
Custodian Joanna MacPherson, whose family have lived at Attadale for three generations, said: “It’s wonderful to have the hard work of the entire gardening team recognised again by our enthusiastic visitors. We are so pleased to get their kind and enthusiastic feedback.
Photo: members of the Attadale Gardens team with the award.
New farming funding for women and young people
Scotland’s Rural Affairs Secretary has announced a new fund to help women and young people develop careers in the farming sector.
Mairi Gougeon, who announced the support on Wednesday, said the funding would provide successful applicants with £500 each to help pay for practical training courses relevant to farming and crofting.
Speaking at the Royal Highland Centre, the Rural Affairs secretary said that supporting the next generation of farmers was imperative for the agriculture sector to continue to innovate and thrive.
She added that the Government was committed to helping women and young people stay in rural communities by equipping them with the necessary skills to pursue careers in farming and crofting.
For more information on The Next Generation and Women in Agriculture Practical Training Funds, click here.
Skye Mountain Rescue Team boosted by £1,200 brownies fund
The Isle of Skye Brownies have been commended by the Skye Mountain Rescue Team after raising more than £1,200 for the life-saving organisation.
The Skye brownies raised a total of £1,254 for the charity.
A spokesperson for Skye Mountain Rescue described the efforts as outstanding, adding that currently three out of every five rescues in Scotland are funded by donations from the public.
The said that without such generous support as that from the brownies the emergency service would not being able to exist.
You can listen to the latest local news for Skye and Lochalsh live at the times below by clicking on the banner.
No date set yet for Portree Hospital urgent care extension
SSEN “extremely disappointed” by council rejection
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks have said they are extremely disappointed by the Highland Council’s decision to its major upgrade of power lines between Skye and Fort Augustus.
A motion put forward by Councillors Drew Millar and Ruraidh Stewart against the plans was backed by 11 votes to nine at a meeting of the planning committees on Wednesday.
However, a spokesperson for SSEN Transmission told Radio Skye: “We are extremely disappointed by the decision from The Highland Council to object to our Fort Augustus to Skye Reinforcement project following the recent submission of additional information, which goes against the recommendation of the Council’s planning officers and the previous decision by the committee.”
They added that as the existing overhead line had been built in the 1950s, replacement infrastructure, know as the Skye reinforcement line, was critical to keep the lights on for homes and businesses across Skye and in the Western Isles.
They said this has been demonstrated by two major faults earlier this year which resulted in the temporary loss of power to over 20,000 customers.
The spokesperson concluded that line would also enable the connection of new renewable electricity generation along its route, supporting energy security and climate change targets, and said they now looked to the Scottish Government’s timely determination of the application.
Increase in Highland tenants in rent arrears, says council
Many council tenants across the Highlands are in rent arrears for the first time due to the cost of living crisis according to the local authority.
The growing impact of the crisis on tenants within the region was highlighted during a meeting of the council’s housing and property committee.
The committee revealed that due to the cost of living crisis and other global factors, many tenants are finding themselves in rent arrears for the very first time and require early intervention to guide them and appropriate welfare support.
Housing and Property Committee Chair, Councillor Glynis Campbell Sinclair said: “The Highland Council Housing Service works closely with our Welfare Support Team to ensure early intervention and inform tenants of rent arrears as soon as they arise.
She said that local housing officers carry out a crucial role including directing tenants to agencies that can help ensure they can access support to which they are entitled and can assist with debt and personal budgeting issues.
You can contact your local housing officer or contact the welfare support team through the Highland Council website.
Nevis Radio presenter announced as Green Party candidate
A former radio presenter from the Highlands has been announced as the Scottish Green Party’s candidate for the Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency at the next Westminster general election.
Former Nevis Radio volunteer, 42-year-old Peter Newman has been chosen by the party’s Highland and Islands branch to contest the election.
Peter Newman said he was honoured to be chosen as a candidate for the Scottish Greens in the next election and want to make sure that the voices of the people so long ignored in rural areas are heard during the campaign.
Mr Newman has previously worked on Ardnamurchan where he was a guidance teacher and faculty head.
He co-hosted a show on community radio station, Nevis Radio, as well as volunteering as part of Lochaber’s Refugee Resettlement programme.
Deadline approaches for Isle of Skye Events community fund
Community groups have just five days left to apply for a local fund through the Isle of Skye Events charity.
The charity which organises a range of events across the island from the Isle of Skye Half Marathon to the annual Skye Santa Dash will distribute £3,5000 between up to ten small charities or community groups who receive a minimum of £350.
The Skye Events Community Fund is still open until 12pm on 15th November. Successful applicants will be notified by 5pm on Friday 17th November.
For more information, click here.
Players sought for first-ever girls-only five-a-sides
Skye and Lochalsh Female Football Club are encouraging 14 to 18 year-olds to sign up for the first-ever girls only five-a-side tournament taking place in Portree next weekend.
The competition is open to 10-13 year-olds and 14-18 year-old with many people in the younger age having already signed up for the festival of football.
The tournament takes place at the Fingal centre in Portree High School on Saturday 18th November. For more information, including how to sign up search for Skye and Lochalsh Female Football Club on Facebook and Instagram.
You can listen to the latest local news for Skye and Lochalsh live at the times below by clicking on the banner.
Skye and Raasay Councillor stress need for health care progress
The need for progress in urgent care and bed provision across north Skye has today been underlined by Skye and Raasay Councillors at an area committee meeting.
Speaking at this morning meeting Councillor Calum Munro paid tribute to the community for its hard work in protecting services but stress the need for Sir Lewis Ritchie’s recommendations to be implemented for the sake of the island.
“Seven or eight years ago, there were moves to close Portree Hospital, and it was a huge community effort led by SOS-NHS Skye and the wider community which saved the hospital and eventually brought Sir Lewis Ritchie to come and review the situation,” he said.
“We must remember that Sir Lewis Ritchie report is not simply an aspiration it is a binding document which the NHS Highland Board committed to as part of the full business case to build Broadford Hospital.”
All four Skye and Raasay members agreed that increasing community beds and providing 24/7 care and was crucial.
Assessing the steps taken since the 2018 Ritchie report, Conservative councillor Ruaridh Stewart highlighted a steep decline in bed provision
“At that point (2018) there were 71 community beds and there was commitment and need to increase that to 77 beds for Skye. Like my [fellow] members Councillor Finlayson and Councillor Millar [have said] there is this frustration in the community, because the current situation falls far short of this recommendation, there is only 41 community beds available at the moment.
“And, as has been mentioned before, the urgent care service is only available at weekends and bank holidays.
“The provision of care beds, it leaves our vulnerable and elderly residents without that care accessible to their community.
“It puts families on Skye in a really difficult position, they have either go to provide that support themselves or they have to witness their loved ones sent away to distant care homes scattered across the Highlands.
“It is really crucial that we do provide the necessary resources, staffing and infrastructure, roads, it has all been covered here, to fulfil the promise of quality health care services here that there has been a commitment to…”
“The pace of action does seem to be causing frustration in the community…. there is this view that this (recommendations) have been kicked into the long grass and that’s something that we can’t allow to continue.”
NHS Highland’s former chief officer Louise Bussell said that recruitment continued to be a considerable obstacle when it came to care beds across the area.
“In relation to bed capacity, you are absolutely right, we have massive challenges with recruiting – pretty much most of our staff at Home Farm (care home) are agency staff, and that is entirely because we can’t recruit.
“We have repeatedly tried various different methods of recruiting, both to support worker roles and to substantive. We have more luck in the hospital with support workers, but again we have challenges with recruitment of registered staff…”
Council backs quiet routes on Skye and Raasay
During Monday’s area committee meeting, councillors gave their back to the introduction quiet routes on Skye and Raasay.
The temporary traffic regulations orders will see 60 miles per hour section reduced to 40 mile per hours zone on the Armadale to Tormore route in south Skye and the Inverarish road on Raasay.
The speed limit on the routes will be fixed at 4om miles per hour for a period of 18 months.
Creative Arts Festival Portree holds open night
The premier night of the UHI West Highland’s Creative Arts Festival Portree take place in the Skye capital tonight.
The grand opening is being held between 5.30 to 7.30, the Portree campus.
The exhibition will include work from students across creative disciplines and levels – including Contemporary Art Practice, Sculpture, Photography and Drawing.
Ahead of the festival, UHI Portree Art and Design lecturer Meg Miller, pictured above, spoke to Radio Skye about the importance of the event for the students.
“It is a very important part of the course at this stage where they are engaging with the public and other creative people.
“They are going to get different perspective and viewpoints are they are going to be picking up on some of those, so it should be great.
Skye hockey teams make debut in Ben Wyvis Festival
Skye Junior Hockey teams took part in the Ben Wyvis Hockey Festival for the first-time last Friday May at Dingwall Academy.
Two teams participate in the competition – Skye Cuillin the more experienced side, and Skye Storr a side comprising beginners to the sport.
The Skye squad was organised by Portree Active Schools Sarah Ross along with coach Angie MacGilvray who along with parents accompanied the teams to the festival.
Event organiser Paula Barlow from Ben Wyvis Primary School and Dingwall Academy was keen that more high schools get involved in the secondary age leagues as at present only three high schools across Highland compete.
Speaking to Radio Skye about the tournament, Skye hockey coach Angie MacGilvray said: “This is the first time that we have participated in the Ben Wyvis Hockey Festival and we were delighted to have two young teams representing Skye.
“There were 14 primary school teams from across the Highlands participating in the event at Dingwall, and for most of our players in was their first time competing at a tournament of this nature, they all did fantastically well.
“Our Skye Cuillin team came third in their league with some great play and really good goals and our young Skye Storr team showed great determination against very tough opposition in their league.
She added: “It was a fantastic experience for us all and it is great to be part of a Highland hockey community.
“Where are really grateful to Sarah Ross who supports our hockey activities through the Highlife Highland programme and we are looking forward to more game and tournaments in the future.”
Fort William to host Royal National Mòd in 2025
Fort William has today been announced been as the host for Royal National Mòd 2025
The Lochaber town has been selected as the venue for Gaeldom’s premiere event for the ninth.
The annual celebration of Gaelic language and culture will run from 10th to 18th October.
A total of 2,100 participants from across the world took part in a total of 200 competitions at the 2022 Royal National Mod held in Perth.
Around 7,500 people are estimated to have visited Perth for the festival and its thought to have contributed around £1 million to the local economy.
News by Adam Gordon.
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The chief executive of NHS Highland has there are no plans to close Portree Hospital but stressed the local health authority does face challenges concerning future provision.
On Thursday, Radio Skye was informed through a community source that two full-time nurses at the Skye capital had handed in their notice.
Addressing the matter, Ms Dudek, who was in Skye on Thursday for the official opening of the Staffin health centre, told Radio Skye she had only recently been made aware of the situation.
However, she said there needed to be a balance in terms of past services and what was suitable for the future.
Here is Ms Dudek speaking on the matter…
https://www.mixcloud.com/RadioSkye/nhs-highland-ceo-pam-dudek-on-skye-staffing-challenges/
At present the urgent care centre in Portree Hospital is open from 9am to 6pm at weekends and bank holidays only.
Earlier this month a spokesperson for NHS Highland told Radio Skye that progress with the rural support team and urgent care centre would be review at the end of March and develop a develop a plan for how urgent care will be delivered by June 2023.
The spokesperson added that the extension of the urgent care service will need to be completed in a phased way due to new practitioners being at different stages of their training
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Uig sailings diverted for three-days following “enormous disruption”
A ferry leaves Uig harbour on Friday 13th January before the start of the first phase of vital works at the Skye port.
All CalMac sailing through Uig harbour have been diverted for at least three days amid issues with the temporary bridge at the Skye port.
The ferries operator CalMac said it had taken the decision to divert sailings away for Uig after it emerged that vehicles greater than 10 metres in length were unable to travel through it.
The Highland Council, which is the harbour authority, said the problem was discovered during a live trial of berthing of the MV Hebrides on Wednesday night.
From today CalMac has reverted to the Uig closure services with a daily service provided between Lochmaddy – Ullapool until 27th March.
The decision came after a day of enormous disruption at Uig harbour on Thursday in which services through the Uig were halted just hours after the harbour reopened following a nine-week closure for essential works to the maritime asset.
The Highland Council has announced earlier in the week that the first stage of works to prepare for the replacement of the vessel linkspan had been completed and that ferry services to and from Uig Harbour would resume from 23 March.
Indeed, a spokeswoman for CalMac said they were assured by Highland Council, who are the Harbour Authority, that there would be no restrictions on operations at Uig – however, this has now been proven to not be the case.
CalMac said they are seeking urgent confirmation of the situation from Highland Council as this has caused enormous disruption and upset to our customers. We are pressing Highland Council to resolve this matter as quickly as possible so that we can resume our services to Uig.
The spokeswoman went on say that CalMac fully appreciates and shares the frustration felt by communities regarding this very late notice from Highland Council, which brings more uncertainty to our communities regarding the reopening of Uig.”
They added: Please be assured that we are working closely with The Highland Council and will provide a further update as soon as we are able to.”
Commenting on the farcical situation, Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnstone said: “This latest issue at Uig is extremely disappointing. Ferry users now face longer journeys, more disruption and more uncertainty.
“Surely these issues should have been identified and addressed earlier, and not left until the 11th hour.
“Our ferry network is already struggling, and every incident like this just erodes confidence in the service a little more.”
The second planned closure at Uig harbour for the works is due to take place from 30th October to 11th Dec 2023.
News by Adam Gordon.
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