A north minister has urged NHS Highland bosses to show some “care and compassion” and reconsider plans to close a community hospital on Skye.
Rev John Murray said the argument to shut the facility in Portree “did not stack up” because the move amounted to downgrading local health services which would disadvantage elderly and frail people.
He added that he was surprised that NHS chiefs had stated that closing the hospital would be a marked improvement on the existing situation.
Mr Murray, who leads the Kilmuir and Stenscholl congregation in the north of Skye, has called for an independent review of the decision to build a new hospital at Broadford, with a smaller facility in Portree.
“NHS Highland are suggesting that all in-patient beds in Portree hospital can be axed and, amongst other ‘community empowerment’ be replaced by hiring out a few beds in a nursing home with access to these beds by doctors and nurses,” he said.
“That’s clearly a downgrading of the excellent medical and nursing care presently delivered in the actual hospital.
“When you consider that people are being sent as far away as Aultbea because there are no places in island care homes, then the health board plans just do not stack up.”
Mr Murray has argued that closing the hospital would add to social deprivation in north Skye.
“The Kirk commissioned a nationwide survey in 2012 which concluded that northern parts of the island were suffering from poor access to services including health,” he said.
“Healthcare is about providing an environment where the primary objective is healthcare and that is what a hospital provides.
“Portree Community Hospital currently provides just that so it’s no wonder folk in North Skye are really worried about this hospital closure.
“An NHS Highland in-house report, produced only in July 2014, well after the options appraisal process that recommended Portree be cleared of all in patient beds, also showed clearly that the worst areas for social deprivation are here in North Skye.
The plan to close Portree hospital makes that worse.”
Mr Murray said he would be calling on newly appointed NHS Highland chairman David Alston to reconsider the plans.
Mr Alston could not be contacted last night.