Skye hospitals consultation unsatisfactory, says MSP

A new building will replace the hospital in Broadford

A consultation on hospital provision in Skye has been described as "unsatisfactory" by the chairman of Holyrood's petitions committee.

Michael McMahon made his comment after MSPs took evidence on a petition opposing NHS Highland's redesign of services on the island.

Mr McMahon said the petition should be considered again after the Scottish Parliament elections in May.

NHS Highland said that it handled the redesign process appropriately.

NHS Highland's proposal to build a new hospital in Broadford and turn Portree into a smaller "spoke" unit has Scottish government approval.

Legitimate process

Islanders in the north and west of Skye say, if the redesign goes ahead as planned, they will be left with a day clinic at Portree and will have to travel further to access hospital services.

The petition, signed by thousands of people in Skye, calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the government to reverse its consent to the project.

Mr McMahon said the petition should be brought back to the committee for further discussion.

He said: "The consultation appears to have been so unsatisfactory. There is still life in this one."

The MSP said that even if the government's approval was not reversed, there were lessons to be learned.

NHS Highland has defended the assessment of options carried out by a steering group.

The Scottish Health Council has also said the process was legitimate.

Following the latest criticism, NHS Highland said the consultation was done in a "meaningful and inclusive way" and was sorry people living in the north of Skye felt that it was flawed.

A spokesman said: "We believe that the public consultation we conducted into proposed service redesign for Skye, Lochalsh and South West Ross was robust and fair, and this view has been supported by the Scottish Health Council."

He added: "With regards to the latest meeting of the public petitions committee, we are sorry that the committee had issues with our responses and with the consultation process and would be happy to provide any further help assistance that may be required.

"To reiterate, we believe that the process was as it should have been, and therefore that the decision is the most appropriate one for all the people of Skye, Lochalsh and South West Ross."