Highlands and Islands MSP Douglas Ross has welcomed a “positive and constructive” meeting with members of the Caithness Health Action Team.
Douglas met with members in Wick on Thursday to discuss their concerns over the delivery of crucial health services in rural and remote communities across Caithness.
The maternity unit at Caithness General Hospital in Wick was downgraded in 2016 and as a result most women in the far north now give birth in Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
He says that is simply unacceptable that so many patients living in the area have to make trips of 100 miles or more down the A9 to Inverness just to access maternity and other crucial frontline healthcare units.
Douglas thanked members for their tireless campaigning efforts which he says have “shone the spotlight” on how problematic and even dangerous access to health services are for residents in Caithness, compared with those living in the Central Belt.
He added that he is acutely aware of the challenges facing expectant mothers and other patients in Caithness, given the now downgrading of maternity services at Dr Gray’s in his Moray constituency more than four years ago.
Douglas has called on SNP Health Secretary Humza Yousaf to ensure he follows up on his recent meeting with campaigners and guarantee NHS Highland will have the resources to deliver services to patients in their own communities.
Douglas said: “I was very pleased to have the opportunity to meet with members of the Caithness Health Action Team. This was a positive and constructive meeting and I thank the members for taking the time to meet with me, and more importantly for their tireless campaigning efforts.
“The lack of crucial health services, including maternity services is an issue that has been affecting expectant mums for far too long in Caithness and it cannot continue indefinitely.
“I am acutely aware of the damage that can be done by having to make these long journeys to give birth elsewhere, given the ongoing downgrading of maternity services at Dr Gray’s in my own Moray constituency.
“The efforts of the campaigners have shone a spotlight on how our rural and remote communities are far too often forgotten about when it comes to the healthcare needs. Those living in the central belt would never have to endure 100-mile journeys to access a maternity unit but that’s the harsh reality for Caithness mothers.
“Humza Yousaf must follow up as a matter of urgency on the meeting he had himself with campaigners in Caithness. His warm words must be backed up by action and a commitment that NHS Highland will have the resources they need to deliver services to patients in their own community.
“I will keep pushing for improved maternity services right across the Highlands to make sure expectant mums can give birth as close to home as possible.”