Inverness hospital ops to be hit by strike

MOST outpatient clinics, day surgery and elective surgery at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness will be cancelled next Wednesday during a day of strike action by public services employees.

Non-urgent appointments will bear the brunt of the disruption as NHS Highland prioritises running a safe service during the industrial action.

In response to the strike by public services employees, the health authority announced today it is in the process of implementing a business continuity plan across the board area and plans to run a limited service in hospitals.

"Our priority and responsibility is at all times to ensure we run a safe service," said a spokesperson.

"We will be maintaining all emergency services and core clinical services as identified in our continuity plan, which includes cancer treatments, renal dialysis, and emergency mental health and maternity services.

"Anyone who is currently receiving a course of daily or weekly treatment will also not be affected."

To maintain safe services NHS Highland will cancel some non-urgent activity including most outpatient clinics, day surgery and elective surgery.

Chief executive Elaine Mead said: "We have begun to identify exactly what will run and have started to contact patients directly to inform them if their appointment is cancelled on November 30.

"We are working closely with our staff to clarify all these arrangements. We are also working with our partner agencies, NHS24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service, to clarify what services they will be running."

She added: "While we respect the right of colleagues to take industrial action we would like to reassure patients and the wider public that we have robust business continuity plans and there will be no disruption to emergency services and safe care."

Planning has begun to ensure any patient who has been cancelled will be re-booked as a matter of priority.

If patients have any queries or concerns they should contact NHS Highland using the contact telephone number on their appointment letter.