Raigmore operations rescheduled due to coronavirus

NHS Highland said the decision affecting Raigmore had not been taken lightly

A number of operations are being rescheduled at the largest hospital in the Highlands as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

NHS Highland said the measure at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness was part of the health board's "state of readiness in response to the virus.

The Highland area has not yet had a confirmed case of coronavirus.

The health board said decisions to cancel any operations were not taken lightly.

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NHS Highlkand said elective surgery would return on Monday.

Katherine Sutton, head of acute of services, said: "All efforts are made to ensure that any cancellations are kept to a minimum and we apologise to all patients who are affected.

"Any patients that have been cancelled are prioritised and rebooked as quickly as possible."

NHS Highland's medical director Dr Boyd Peters said the health board was in a "good and improving" state of preparedness.

He told BBC Scotland: "People are working very hard so that we can do the very best we can to manage the future demand."

Dr Peters asked the public to follow medical advice to help prevent the spread of the virus.

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