WATCH: Claim Caithness group causing "toxic atmosphere" & "demoralising" NHS staff

A Thurso doctor and a protest group are rowing after she accused Caithness Health Action Team's campaign of creating a "toxic atmosphere" and "demoralising" NHS staff.

Dr Alison Brooks says she's fed up with social media posts from members and supporters of CHAT.

The local GP claims negative patient experiences are being used to scaremonger "lots of patients" who Dr Brooks says are "absolutely terrified."

She told MFR News: "When Caithness Health Action Team were set up, they did have some very good intentions, but I think they've gone completely out of control.

"There has been such a strong, passionate campaign. I've no doubt they're very passionate about their beliefs, but in doing so they are demoralising the current staff in the county.

"A lot of the nursing staff are feeling very undervalued. They're feeling that their work is under scrutiny.

"Some of them have voiced that they would leave the area, and there are other people who've said they wouldn't come to the area because of the toxic atmosphere that's here at the moment."

But Ron Gunn - the group's vice chair - says it's not to blame for local healthcare workers feeling "undervalued."

And responding to accusations of NHS staff feeling "intimidated", Ronn Gunn told MFR News that CHAT just wants to highlight perceived weaknesses in the local maternity unit model which is a much downgraded version of what used to be in place at Caithness General Hospital in Wick.

He said: "We have a large following on social media. We are continually receiving messages, and we're basically just passing on what folk are telling us.

"If NHS Highland or MSPs don't like what the people are telling us, it's not really CHAT's fault.

"It's the last thing that we would want to put across, that we're attacking the staff.

"We're only trying to improve the health services across the county, and we're certainly not having a go at the staff.

"If they are picking up that fact, well I will apologise here and there. Certainly we have nothing but admiration for all NHS staff across the county, and we have no intentions of attacking them.

"With Facebook, you can put something up on a post, and you've virtually no control over what other people's comments that come in. It can easily go away in a different direction.

"I can honestly say that no member of CHAT has ever abused or threatened any member of the NHS."

LISTEN: MFR News reporter Bryan Rutherford has been talking to both sides in this report brought to you by MFR News reader Joe Odber in the 1pm bulletin on MFR 2...