NHS Highland yesterday outlined its plans to consult on its latest bid to revamp adult social care and health services in Caithness.
The cash-strapped health board was earlier this year forced to abort a previous long-running review following a public backlash over fears that either or both inpatient wards at Thurso’s Dunbar Hospital and Wick’s Town and County Hospital were being lined up for closure.
The new redesign exercise has begun with three well-attended events which looked at how the services should adapt to meet the needs of the population over the next 15-20 years.
A further three workshops are planned next month when it is intended to develop possible future options.
NHS Highland’s north area manager Michelle Johnstone said: “These workshops are to agree criteria to assess future options and then to develop a long list of options before agreeing and scoring a shortlist. This should allow the group to establish a preferred option(s).”
Ms Johnstone said it will again seek feedback from a broad a range of representation from patients, public, third sector and partner agencies, elected members and all staff groups/teams across Caithness.
She said: “Depending on the level of interest shown, we may have to restrict the numbers to ensure an appropriate mix and geographic spread, but we will confirm this in due course. And, for continuity, participants must ideally be able to attend all three workshops.”
The sessions are scheduled for the Pulteneytown Peoples Project, Huddart Street, Wick, on Friday, May 18 (all day); Tuesday May 22 (afternoon); and Thursday, May 31 (afternoon).