Calls for mental health services to return to rural hospitals in the north have been made after changes were made to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
NHS Highland reconfigured services at rural hospitals to cope with any covid outbreaks, including Migdale in Bonar Bridge where mental health services at its Strathy Ward have been relocated to New Craigs in Inverness.
Local man Michael Baird has said it is “by time services were brought back to the local area”.
He added: “Scotland has entered phase three now and it is people from the local area that are being inconvenienced.”
An NHS Highland spokesman confirmed the Strathy Ward remains open with support being offered in the community by mental health staff.
He added: “This is in place while we are working through the remobilisation of services and ensure that we have capacity to respond to a second wave of Covid-19.”
Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant urged NHS Highland to think about its long term strategy because “alarm bells are still ringing”.
She said: “I totally understand that Covid-19 needed emergency planning, but I am receiving letters from constituents with real concerns about the lack of mental health services in rural areas a situation which has been exacerbated by this pandemic.
“Having that facility closer to home is a boon for the patients but also for their families and friends.”
