MSPs to seek views on independent scrutiny of Skye hospitals redesign

A new hospital is planned to replace Broadford Hospital

The Scottish government is to be asked for its views on setting up an independent scrutiny panel to examine a planned redesign of hospital services on Skye.

Holyrood's petitions committee is to make the request following concerns raised at its meeting on Thursday by Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant.

The committee previously criticised NHS Highlands' consultation on the plans.

The health board has said 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.

Islanders in the north and west of Skye have claimed the plan would leave them with a day clinic at Portree, with patients having to travel further to access hospital services.

A petition calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the government to reverse its consent to the project has previously been debated by the petitions committee.

It remains open and available for further discussion by MSPs.

During the committee's latest meeting, Ms Grant said while there was a need for a new hospital, there remained concerns among islanders about the distances they will have to travel to access services.

The committee agreed to write to the government to seek its opinion on establishing an independent scrutiny panel to examine the planned redesign.

Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, has welcomed the committee's decision.

She said: "The NHS Highland redesign of the hospitals on the Isle of Skye is a major project, and it's important to get it right."