Eye On Index

Eye On Health Services In Caithness
Maternity

11 March 04
CAITHNESS CONVENER WELCOMES WIDER CONSULTATION ON MATERNITY MOVES

The Convener of The Highland Council’s Caithness Area Committee, Councillor David Flear, has welcomed the chance to speak to the NHS Highland Board when it meets in Wick next week to discuss the findings of an independent review carried out by Professor Andrew Calder into the safety and sustainability of maternity services in Caithness and Sutherland.

Councillor Flear emphasised that Professor Calder’s recommendations were the starting point to the consultation with the public and interested partnership agencies and many more factors, including the social and economic impact of potential change, needed to be given equal consideration before a solution was found.

He said: “I have read with interest Professor Calder’s report and note his recognition of the deeply felt anxieties of the public over the future provision of maternity services in Caithness and the anger among the local community “for reasons which extend beyond health issues to include local economic and social concerns”.

“As Professor Calder says the NHS Highland Board must take notice of the current and future concerns of the local population during the consultation process and deliver a safe quality and convenient service to the public in Caithness and Sutherland.”

He said the Scottish Executive should be monitoring the situation very closely.

He said: “This will be a crunch decision for the Scottish Executive. If they are serious about community planning and providing services locally then they must ensure that the people of Caithness and Sutherland have a maternity service they have the utmost confidence in.”