Health Secretary admits delay to £36 million Inverness medical centre
Work on a £36 million medical centre for Inverness has been delayed again and will not begin until next year, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has admitted.
Edward Mountain
Nicola Sturgeon challenged over £35 million Inverness medical centre
Nicola Sturgeon was yesterday challenged over delays to a £35 million Inverness medical centre which aims to cut agonising waiting times for hip, knee and eye surgery.
Health board close savings target to within £5 million with chief exec optimistic of breaking even
NHS Highland has made significant progress towards achieving its targeted £28 million worth of savings - but the health board remains around £5 million short of breaking even.
Concern over NHS Highland’s £1 million spend on consultants to sort out its troubled finances
Scotland’s public spending watchdog said she understood concerns over NHS Highland's decision to spend £1 million on consultants in a bid to sort out its troubled finances.
NHS Highland apologises for 78-week waits for surgery
NHS Highland patients needing orthopaedic surgery can wait up to 78 weeks for a routine operation, the health board has admitted.
Tory MSP Edward Mountain raises fears about rural broadband
Fears rural households may face higher internet charges were raised yesterday after it emerged the R100 broadband procurement programme will not achieve 100% coverage on its own.
Concern over delays to flagship projects including Highland railway upgrade
A flagship project to upgrade the Highland railway between Perth and Inverness has had £8.3 million added to its budget, according to Scottish Government documents.
Nicola Sturgeon challenged over Inverness jail’s CCTV safety fears
Nicola Sturgeon was yesterday urged to make safety of Inverness jail staff a “top priority” when she was challenged over the prison’s “insufficient” CCTV coverage.
Public finance minister challenged on bank shortage in Highlands
The Scottish Government has been challenged over the lack of rural bank branches amid reports criminals are targeting businesses which have to store their own cash.
Jeane Freeman says redress for workers bullied out of NHS Highland will be considered on case-by-case basis
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman last night said NHS Highland would consider “restitution” for those bullied out of their jobs on a "case-by-case"basis.
Edward Mountain seeks assurances on Inverness Airport Rail Station shuttle buses
A north MSP has demanded assurances that the shuttle bus from the new station at Inverness Airport to take passengers to their flights will be free.
Conservative MSP re selected to run in 2021 election
Highlands and Islands MSP, Edward Mountain, has been re-selected as the Scottish Conservative candidate for the Inverness and Nairn constituency in the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections.
Fears rural community in Moray could be cut off from emergency services due to bridge closure
A bridge closure in Moray could have a devastating effect on a remote community battered by heavy rain.
Plea for John Swinney to take action on Tain Royal Academy
Education Secretary John Swinney has been urged to visit Tain Royal Academy to see for himself the leaks, substandard heating, “inadequate” canteen and poorly drained playing fields.
Health Secretary to visit NHS Highland to see what progress has been made on bullying
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman will visit NHS Highland next week to see what progress has been made to tackle its bullying problem.
Rural patients unable to take advantage of NHS Highland online appointment scheme due to poor internet quality
Plans to offer rural residents hospital appointments online have stalled due to the poor internet quality in the north countryside.
Holyrood committee rejects 20mph speed limit plan
A proposal to introduce a 20mph speed limit for residential streets and minor roads in Scotland has been rejected by a Scottish Parliament committee examining the plans.
Warning that salmon decline means Scotland is facing last generation of angling
MSPs yesterday called for urgent action to preserve wild salmon in the Dee, Spey, Tay and Tweed amid warnings that Scotland is facing its “last generation of angling”.
MSPs back calls for action on fish farming
MSPs last night backed calls for urgent action to tighten the regulation of fish farms and minimise the industry’s impact on the environment.
Public reports 124 incidents of anti-social behaviour per day in north and north-east
Members of the public reported an average of 124 incidents of anti-social behaviour every day across the north and north-east last year, Police Scotland data has revealed.
Raigmore Hospital among Scotland’s lowest spenders on cleaning
Raigmore in Inverness was among Scotland’s lowest spending hospitals when it came to cleaning last year, it has emerged.
Health Secretary’s pledge for better TV deal for hospital patients
The health secretary has pledged to work with NHS Highland to secure a better deal for patients splashing out “extortionate fees” to watch television at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
Community urged to help with beleagured Highlands ski centre
Scotland’s public spending watchdog was last night urged to investigate the financial arrangements that led to Cairngorm Mountain Ltd going into administration.
Scottish Government should have tackled NHS Highland bullying claim earlier
The “bullying culture” in NHS Highland should have been challenged earlier by the Scottish Government, it has been claimed.
Urgent action needed on fish farms, say MSPs
Urgent action must be taken to improve the regulation of the salmon farming industry and to improve fish health and meet environmental challenges, a Holyrood Committee has concluded.
Highland patients have to wait twice as long for treatments as they did three years ago
Patients in the Highlands are having to wait up to twice as long for treatments as they did three years ago, shock new figures have revealed.
MSP to travel 2,000 miles meeting constituents amid Raigmore carpark campaign
One Highlands and Islands MSP will travel over 2,000 miles as he undertakes a “summer surgery tour” to meet constituents and businesses.
SNP accused of a “dereliction of duty” over post-Brexit farm payments
No plans have been drawn up for post-Brexit farm payments, the Scottish Government has admitted, leading to accusations of a “dereliction of duty”.
Tory MSPs slated for high earnings from second jobs
A string of north and north-east MSPs are facing a backlash over their second jobs – with one potentially topping up their Holyrood salary by the equivalent of £14,000 per day.
War of words over government’s role in spreading flu message
A Highlands and Islands MSP has blamed the Scottish Government for not giving some at-risk patients enough information on how to get the right flu jab.
Edward Mountain: Time to build and support NHS teams in the north, not dismantle them
Next year, the National Health Service will celebrate its 70th anniversary.
MSP calls for health secretary to quit as radiologist ‘crisis’ grows
More than 50 surgical staff have signed a letter outlining how Raigmore’s radiology department is in crisis.