NHS Highland “fully committed” to Skye nursing home recruitment
NHS Highland has said it is fully committed to attracting and retaining health care staff amid criticism from a Skye pressure group over vacancies at the island Home Farm nursing home.
SOS-NHS Skye has called in question NHS Highland’s recruitment process for 12 health care assistant posts at the Portree nursing home, which they claim have not be advertised or open for application for May.
However, NHS Highland has told Radio Skye is working hard to advertise post as continually open rolling adverts and set up special local recruitment pages on its website.
Ruth Fry is the local health authority’s head of communications and engagement.
She told Radio Skye: We are working closely with our colleagues in recruitment to be able to advertise more posts as a continually open, rolling advert.
“To help people navigate to particular locations within Highland on the national Job Train website we have set up links to different localities from the NHS Highland corporate website careers page.
“A short-life working group involving the community has been formed to focus on NHS recruitment in Skye, and we are fully committed to working together to attract and retain health and care staff.”
Radio Skye has approached SOS-NHS Skye for response to NHS Highland’s statement.
Balmacara Gala Day creates a buzz within local community
Circus performers, sporting events, live music, and sushshine were just some of the attractions at the second annual Balmacara Gala held in the village on Saturday.
Radio Skye were kindly invited to be part of the festivities on the day.
As well as being a great day out for locals and visitors to the village, the Balmacara Gala Day also acted a fundraising event for the Old Mill Hall restoration project.
Mardi Wood (pictured) is the organiser and chair of the fundraising committee for the Friends of Balmacara Old Mill Hall.
Speaking to Radio Skye, she said: “It is only our second Gala, but we are learning all the time, but I think there has been a wonderful turnout – it is just a lovely community feel.
“I think that everyone has engaged in buying into it, which is really nice.
Skye Mountain Rescue call-out captured in BBC ‘Close Call’ show
A call-out by the Skye Mountain Rescue Team to find a missing walker during Storm Otto has been featured on a new BBC programme.
The Skye MRT was involved in the search for Dr John Pike who was rescued after surviving two night on open hillside above Loch Coruisk with a broken femur during Storm Otto.
The rescue has been documented in the BBC’s close call show, which can viewed on its catch-up service.
Skye and Shiel ladies one game away from cup glory
Skye Ladies knocked out holders Badenoch to reach the final of the Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup Final following a 4-2 win in Spean Bridge on Sunday
Sarah Yoxon scored twice and Rhianna Kirk and Donna MacKenzie also struck for the islanders as they put their greatest rival to the sword in a memorable victory.
Kinlochshiel Ladies, meanwhile, are one game away from defending the Challenge Cup after a thumping 16-0 win Dunadd in Ballachullish.
Lorna MacRae and Lexie MacKenzie hit 11 of the goals between them as Shiel made it 14 wins from 14 across all competition.
Shiel men’s cup dreams dashed
Kinlochshiel were edged out Kingussie as their dreams of lifting the Artemis MacAulay Cup were dashed with a 2-1 defeat on Saturday.
Archie MacRae opened the scoring for Shiel but the reds were pegged back just before half-time and then conceded with 20 minutes remaining, which proved to be decisive.
However, the Lochalsh side will have the chance to gain revenge next month when they take on Kingussie in the semi-finals of the Camanachd Cup on 5th August.
Sleat and Strath tighten grip at the top of West Highland league
Reigning champions Sleat and Strath strengthened their lead in the West Highland Football League with a 5-1 win over Portree at the King George V playing field on Friday (21st July).
Connaire Yoxon, Cameron MacLeod, and Robin Harvey scored within the last eight minutes of the first half to put Sleat in a commanding position after what had been a largely even encounter until then.
Portree struck back on the hour-mark courtesy of a 40-yeard screamer from Nick Spencer reduce the deficit to two.
Cameron MacLeod scored with 10 minutes to go, though, to re-establish the visitors three-goal cushion before Mike Dunn fired in his first goal for the club to make it 5-1.
That victory coupled with North West Skye and Mallaig 1-1 draw, means that Sleat are now seven points clear at the summit.
Kyleakin are up to fifth after thrashing Kyle 7-2 on the mainland, while Portree Juniors continued their fine season with a 1-0 win in Lochaber against Fort William thanks to the league’s current player of the month, Paul MacKinnon, who scored to maintained their position in third.
Sleat’s Robin Harvey produced a player of the match performance in their 5-1 win against Portree.
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Fifty-year-old woman in serious condition after Elgol fall
A 50-year-old woman is in a serious condition after falling from a cliff in the Elgol area.
Police Scotland told Radio Skye that it received a report around 3.35pm on Thursday afternoon that a woman had fallen from a cliff in the Elgol area.
The Skye Mountain Rescue Team and coastguard rescue teams from Portree and Dunvegan, the Scottish Ambulance Service, Helimed were also involved in the multi-agency agency operation.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said that the 50-year-old was taken by air ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where she remains in a serious condition.
Coca Cola tops brand products pollution across Scotland
Environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage has published a new report highlighting the top 12 companies whose product comprise 70 per cent of plastic pollution in Scotland.
Collected by citizen scientists, the brand audit report found that Coca Cola’s plastic products topped the pollution list, with McDonald’s and Nestle taking second and third place.
The report which based on 39 audits conducted in Scotland, with 3,457 polluting items found.
Emily Johns, (pictured below) lives in south Skye and is part of the Skye Beach Cleans group.
Speaking to Radio Skye today about the survey, she said that Coca Cola has taken steps to tackle pollution by changing its bottles so the caps are attached to the bottles.
Surfers Against Sewage is urging the government to introduce an ‘all-in’ deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers of all sizes and materials, including glass as soon as possible.
The government has delayed plans for a Deposit Return Scheme until 2025.
The survey comes ahead of a joint project between Skye Beach Cleans and Loughborough University comparing present-day litter across the island’s beach with a pioneering study carried in 1972.
The project begins on Elgol beach this Sunday (23rd July).
Former Rangers defender to star in Skye charity football match
Former Ranger star Marvin Andrews is set to return to Skye next weekend to feature in a special charity match in aid of Maggies.
Marvin Andrews made 53 appearances for Rangers helping them to win the Scottish Premier League title and the Scottish League Cup, he also represent Trinidad and Tobago in their debut World Cup Finals in 2006.
The defender will play in a the June McCaherty Memorial Shield.
The match will be contested between Portree Juniors and a Juniors Legends side at Portree High School Astro Turf at 2pm on Saturday 29th July.
The match is in memory of the June McCaherty, the late wife of the former Portree Juniors manager Phil McCaherty.
Marvin Andrews pictured with Radio Skye’s studio manager Suzy Lee and chairman of the station Heckie Cormack during a visit to the island in May 2023.
Lucky2BHere’s work recognised with People Postcode Lottery award.
The People’s Postcode Lottery have chosen Skye-based charity Lucky2BHere to receive an award in recognition of the outstanding work it is delivering across the country.
Lucky2BHere founder Ross Cowie said he was delighted to receive a cheque of £2,000, which will support the charity’s work in saving lives, improving lives, and in education.
Ross Cowie (pictured below) quipped that he was only in the photo because of his good looks and went on praise the efforts of the many people who have made Lucky2BHere a success.
Shiel to take on Kingussie amid Skye call-off drama
Kinlochshiel are set to face Kingussie on Saturday in the Mowi Premiership this weekend in what will be the reigning champions first match since they were penalised for a call-off against Skye.
On Wednesday evening, the Camanachd Association informed the reigning Kingussie that they would be deducted two points for the call-off.
The grand slam winners are contesting the decision by appeal.
Kinlochshiel finished as runners-up to Kingussie in the Premiership last season.
Duncan MacLeod (pictured) and co will be aiming to add Kingussie’s woes with a win over the champions.
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