WATCH: MSP "trying to organise a date" to visit threatened Highland hospital

"All you need to do is actually knock on the front door and go and visit" - CAMPAIGNER SHEILA FINLAYSON

Caithness and Sutherland's MSP has still not put a date in the diary to visit a Highland hospital threatened with potential closure.

The office manager for Gail Ross told MFR News last night that the local SNP politician is still "trying to organise a date that will work for both parties..."

An email on behalf of the Scottish Parliament representative came as NHS Highland continues to insist that no decision has been made yet on Wick Town and County Hospital's future.

The future of the Dunbar in Thurso is also uncertain as the health board reviews healthcare services and facilities across Caithness, with decisions expected as early as this month.

Around 3,000-protesters marched through Wick and Thurso last weekend, where rallies took place and influential members of the community formed a panel, which delivered speeches to audiences and took questions from members of the public.

Among the panellists were LibDem MP Jamie Stone, Labour MSP Rhoda Grant, Conservative MSP Edward Mountain, and the SNP's Gail Ross.

She was heckled by a crowd when Ms. Ross revealed that she has not yet visited the Town and County - claiming she cancelled the commitment over a "bad cough and a cold" - and was asked by our reporter Bryan Rutherford: "On Monday...will you be getting in touch with Wick Town and County to be arranging another meeting there, so you can see the place for yourself?"

Gail replied and explained: "Yes, absolutely. Unfortunately I had it in the diary to go up and visit in the October recess, and I came down with a bad cough and a cold, and being in a health establishment where there are very vulnerable people is the last place you want to be if you're going to pass on any germs, so I did it for the good of the people who are up in the hospital. It doesn't mean that I don't support them 100-per-cent."

"I had it in the diary to go up and visit in the October recess, and I came down with a bad cough and a cold" - GAIL ROSS MSP

But one week on a visit has still not been scheduled, and although NHS Highland have confirmed that the MSP has been in touch with the health board to make an appointment, the authority would not confirm on what day that was.

In an email reply to our queries yesterday, Kirsteen Currie, Office Manager to Gail Ross MSP, stated: "Gail is travelling at the moment so she asked me to drop you a quick line to confirm she's trying to organise a date that will be ok for both parties at the moment."

In an email which followed, the staffer added: "Gail contacted NHS Highland on Monday to arrange matters."

Sheila Finlayson is the woman behind a 10,000-strong petition showing opposition to any potential plans, which could lead to the Town and County shutting.

She told MFR News: "All you need to do is actually knock on the front door and go and visit.

"MSPs are supposed to make decisions about health services in this area, they should actually go and visit them. I'm quite shocked.

"Sitting in meetings all day isn't going to inform them. They need to go and see these things in person to see what they're losing.

"Looking at a bit of paper that's been written by somebody else is a very different thing from going to see something yourself."

WATCH: This is what Gail Ross MSP told MFR News last week, and this is what's happened since...

Members of protest group Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT) and local councillors attended a full day meeting in Halkirk with NHS Highland on Thursday.

Among the NHS officials were two Board members and Chair David Alston who earlier this week refused to resign following calls for the health board boss to step down.

According to a Facebook post by Highland Councillor Nicola Sinclair:

• NHS Highland apologised for losing the trust of the community.

• NHS Highland cancelled the follow-up meeting planned for next week because they admitted that they have not provided the facts, figures or plans to allow the community to make any kind of informed decision.

• When they have that info they will convene another meeting so we can all discuss future of health services in the county.

• We all agreed to be open, honest and respectful in communicating with the public.

NHS Highland also said:

• Caithness General Hospital is not under threat and will be maintained as a rural general hospital.

• No matter what happens with the beds, the Dunbar will keep its Minor Injuries Unit and Out of Hours services.

• All palliative care will be delivered in Caithness (not Inverness).

• Palliative care will be supported by specialist beds in Thurso and Wick and GP accessible beds in Thurso and Wick.

• Outpatient services will continue to be delivered in Thurso and Wick.

Councillor Nicola Sinclair said: "Of course, the above statements raise more questions than answers but I think they do help to address some of the fears in the community.

"It's up to us all now to work together and keep on top of the situation to ensure we get the best services possible for our county.