Urgent care arrangements in place for north Skye

The state of health services in Portree has been at the centre of a row

NHS Highland has put in place new arrangements to start providing 24/7 urgent care on Skye.

Previously, at weekends, urgent care was only available by appointment from 08:30 to 19:30.

There has been a row over availability of services at the island's Portree hospital after a woman died and another woman suffered a severe allergic reaction in the town on 11 May.

Six years ago, a review recommended there should be access to urgent non-emergency care 24 hours a day, all week.

NHS Highland said urgent care was distinct from emergency care, which would continue to be provided at Skye's Broadford Hospital by calling 999.

The incidents earlier this year came during the Skye Live music festival, one of the busiest weekends in Portree.

A 49-year-old woman died after becoming unwell and another woman, Eilidh Beaton, was helped by coastguard and RNLI volunteers after she suffered a severe allergic reaction.

In the Scottish parliament, First Minister John Swinney said the availability of emergency care on Skye was "not good enough".

He said said it was a "matter of deep concern to the government" that Portree's community hospital was not open 24/7 despite recommendations made in 2018 following a review by Dr Sir Lewis Ritchie.

Campaigners on Skye have long called for the improvements to be fully implemented.

In April, about 100 people joined a protest in Portree demanding action on urgent care provision.

Eilidh Beaton's case highlighted levels of health service provision in north Skye

NHS Highland submitted a plan to deliver 24/7 urgent care to the Scottish government in late May.

Nurse director Louise Bussell said: "The model has been designed to make the best use of resources across our health care system.

"We will be developing the service over the coming months as we build and develop our teams."

She added: "The place which care is delivered will vary depending on clinical need but this model provides assurance that people will be able to access all aspects of unscheduled care in a timely way based on the presenting need."

Anyone requiring urgent care has been asked to call NHS 24 on 111.

Ms Bussell said: "This has been a significant piece of work involving colleagues across NHS Highland and the Scottish Ambulance Service, as well as from community groups and local people."

The Scottish government defines urgent care as a condition or injury which is not considered to be imminently life threatening but could worsen if left untreated.

NHS Highland said it had more information on urgent and emergency care on its website.