WATCH: Highland hospitals closure threat sparks huge demonstration

Spectacular video showing last night’s candlelit vigil in Wick has already been watched thousands of times on MFR’s Facebook.

Drone footage from the sky shows the Town and County’s car park full of protestors worried about its potential closure.

The video reveals the scale of worry in Caithness, where NHS Highland is considering the futures of facilities, including The Dunbar hospital in Thurso.

"... the main thrust of the review...is to have less reliance on hospital beds" - NHS HIGHLAND

No decisions have been made yet, according to health board bosses, but a spokesperson has told MFR News: "While no decisions have been made, the main thrust of the review...is to have less reliance on hospital beds...NHS Highland has made no secret that current staffing pressures...are presenting challenges that may potentially have an impact on its services."

It's understood that the earliest any decision could be made is next month.

Reverend John Nugent was among the crowd of people carrying candles and lights, which could be seen from high up in the sky.

He said: "People value this in the community. It's a very important community facility. It has gradually been run down, beds have been cut, staff haven't been replaced, and they're very worried about it. Whether they're going to shut the place down or not, I don't know."

After last night’s candlelit vigil in Wick a family invited our reporter into their relative's room at the healthcare facility, where Heather Harper told us that staff are looking after her mum who has dementia: "She's happy here, and the girls are excellent. The staff are all so kind and so nice to us. You wouldn't get that anywhere else. They're all so friendly and so kind. They've not seen us coming in and they'll be sitting holding my mum's hand and speaking to her, and that's really lovely, because in other places they don't have time to do things like that.

"I feel so sorry for the staff because obviously they don't know what's going to happen to them."

The gathering came on the day that Scotland's spending watchdog released a report claiming that patients are waiting longer to receive medical treatment, targets are being missed, and there's a low morale among NHS staff.

Shona Robison, the Scottish Government's Health Secretary had earlier told our newsroom: "There's more money, and there's more staff, but they Audit Scotland say that money alone is not the answer, and actually we have to change the way that we do things."

Further rallies are planned for the weekend in both Wick and Thurso, and according to protest group Caithness Health Action Team, at least 1,000-campaigners are expected to turn up to hear local politicians speak about their positions on the issue, and take questions from members of the public

FULL STATEMENT FROM NHS HIGHLAND:

'While no decisions have been made, the main thrust of the review is to look at all options to strengthen community-based services in the future and have less reliance on hospital beds in line with the National strategy.

'A ‘bed strategy options appraisal event’ was held with local councillors and community stakeholders in Halkirk in September, and two further workshops are planned for 2nd and 10th November. While the board is aware of the demonstrations planned for the end of the month, it hopes that any concerns about options will be raised and addressed during these workshops.

'NHS Highland is currently looking at options as part of a Caithness-wide review of all hospitals in the area. (NHS Highland has made no secret that current staffing pressures across many services including Caithness General Hospital, Town & County and Dunbar are presenting challenges that may potentially have an impact on its services in the short term.)

'At the first appraisal event, attendees were informed that less than one in five people requiring end-of-life care currently receive it in a hospital setting in Caithness. Also, whatever the future models of care, the board made a commitment that the model chosen will aim to reduce the need for travel for Caithness residents. (There are currently around 10,000 appointments a year at Raigmore).

'Only after the workshop events in November, will NHS Highland then decide with the Scottish Health Council whether any further work on the options is necessary, or whether it can move to public consultation.'