Dave Thompson MSP

Today, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Dave Thompson, has asked Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Alex Neil MSP when residents of Skye and Lochalsh can expect to have their new hospital built, and up and running.

Following the decision by NHS Highland to suspend endoscopy services, Dave has been in contact with NHS Highland and a copy of the correspondence is attached to this release.

Commenting on this, Mr Thompson said: “While I am grateful to NHS Highland for their explanation of why endoscopy services have been discontinued at the Mackinnon Memorail in Broadford. This is really not an acceptable situation for patients in Skye to have to travel, and very often, stay overnight so that these procedures can be carried out.

“The Cabinet Secretary confirmed to me he would be reviewing the decision to end endoscopy today and that NHS Highland will be discussing proposals for the new hospital at their next meeting in December.

“In discussions following General Question Time today, the Cabinet Secretary also confirmed that he is to meet with the Chair and Chief Executive of NHS Highland later this month and that he will raise the ending of endoscopy services with them then.  He also confirmed that, as the new hospital is a designated major service change, Ministers will have a formal role in considering whether to approve NHS Highland’s decision and an announcement on funding would follow when this work has been completed.

“I would urge NHS Highland  to agree the new hospital as quickly as possible, so that it can be approved by Ministers, built and enhanced services delivered to Skye as quickly as possible."

Notes:

Correspondence with NHS Highland:

• Letter to NHS Highland 25.9.14
• Letter to Alex Neil 25.9.14
• Letter from NHS Highland 7.10.14
• Letter to NHS Highland 9.10.14

Dave’s Question to the Cabinet Secretary (Draft Official Report):

Dave Thompson (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on replacing the two hospitals on Skye. (S4O-03591)

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Alex Neil): NHS Highland is considering service change proposals that will affect Skye, Lochalsh and south-west Ross. The board carried out a three-month consultation exercise, which concluded on 29 August 2014.

Following the conclusion of the consultation period, NHS Highland is considering the feedback. The board will then consider all the evidence and make a recommendation on how to proceed. NHS Highland expects that its board will consider the proposals at its meeting on 2 December 2014.

Dave Thompson: I am sure that the cabinet secretary will be aware that NHS Highland is to suspend the endoscopy services that it currently operates on Skye. Given that good progress is being made on planning the new facilities, which will offer enhanced services for Skye, Lochalsh and south-west Ross, does the cabinet secretary agree that, in the interim, all should be done to ensure that existing local surgical facilities continue if at all possible? Can he tell us when the new hospital is likely to be built?

Alex Neil: I have received a copy of Dave Thompson’s letter to the chair of NHS Highland on the topic to which he refers, and I will reply in detail in due course.

NHS Highland has stated that it has reluctantly decided to suspend endoscopy service provision at the Mackinnon memorial hospital because the decontamination facilities there are no longer compatible with current standards and are not sufficiently reliable. I will ask NHS Highland as a matter of urgency to provide me with a full report on why that decision has been made and what other options it has considered, and I will be happy to share that report with the member.