Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has expressed serious concern at the scaremongering and misinformation being propagated by the North Skye Action Group/Save Portree Hospital Group (NSAG/SPHG) relating to the NHS Highland plan for new hospital services in Skye, Lochalsh and South West Ross.

He said, “NHS Highland have produced a coherent scheme for the provision of modern hospital care at a first class new facility to be built in Broadford and the Cabinet Secretary for Health is to be applauded for so quickly approving it. This is good news for Skye, Lochalsh and South West Ross.

“The NSAG/SPHG use of totally inappropriate words like “NHS Privatisation” and “Clearance of North Skye” risks spreading fear among the more vulnerable when no such fear is warranted.

The fact is, in patient facilities for pre planned treatments will be improved, enhanced and expanded in the new Hospital in Broadford, and there will continue to be outpatient facilities in the hospital in Portree.

These claims by the NSAG/SPHG that the proposals will lead to the loss of emergency care in Portree are untrue.

I am very surprised that the NSAG/SPHG have taken this approach after the very positive meeting we had on the 10th January when they said they were “pleased to learn that this is merely the start of a process and that the medical, health and social care needs of Skye, Lochalsh and South West Ross would be investigated and developed into a list of requirements around which services will be designed.

I urge NSAG/SPHG to do what they agreed on 10th January and work with NHS Highland and myself to design the best possible health services for North Skye.