Health Secretary to raise travel concerns of orthopaedic patients with NHS Highland as Edward Mountain calls for “right balance to be struck”

Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain today welcomed the SNP Health Secretary’s undertaking to raise the travel concerns of orthopaedic patients in remote rural areas of the Highlands with the Board of NHS Highland.

Edward Mountain MSP secured this undertaking from the Cabinet Secretary during Topical Questions at the Scottish Parliament.

Yesterday concerns were raised about NHS Highland withdrawing in-person orthopaedic consultations from local hospitals in Caithness and Sutherland.

During Topical Questions, Edward Mountain MSP asked the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care for his position: “on whether orthopaedic appointments and surgeries, when they do not require the use of general anaesthetic, should be carried out in local community hospitals.”

The Cabinet Secretary replied: “Health boards will always try and offer patients appointments in their local area, however, patients may be offered appointments at a different location such as a National Treatment Centre to ensure that they are seen as quickly as possible. Treatment decisions are made by clinicians taking into account the patient’s treatment needs and ability to travel.”

Edward Mountain then asked: “The National Treatment Centre is a great addition to the Highlands and we all appreciate it up there. However, patients in Caithness welcomed orthopaedic surgeons travelling to Caithness General, for example, to carry out lists, minor surgeries and review cases which meant that they didn’t have to travel all the way to Raigmore which would take two hours. An orthopaedic surgeon could carry out around 40 case reviews on his list over a period of 2 days. Surely, that’s good use of their time and National Health resources?

The Cabinet Secretary replied: “I recognise the concerns which Mr Mountain has raised.” He added: “I also recognise the need to try and minimise the need for patients to travel excessive distances within the Highlands in particular... I would certainly want to encourage NHS Highland to look at how they can minimise the need for patients to travel to Raigmore where possible and, if there is scope for further procedures to be undertaken at Caithness General Hospital including review visits where possible.”

In his final question, Edward Mountain MSP asked: “I welcome that answer… but my issue is for patients in remote rural areas is that being able to see an orthopaedic surgeon is extremely useful, especially when their case is being reviewed after an operation. My constituents are concerned, having heard that NHS Highland will have to reduce its budget by £16m, that this is one of the outcomes of it and can I ask the Cabinet Secretary to urge NHS Highland to speak more fully with the Orthopaedic Department to make sure that they are taken along with NHS Highland’s plans?”

The Cabinet Secretary answered: “I will certainly make sure that I raise this issue with the Board in order to encourage them to look at what further action they can take to address the concerns that have been raised by Mr Mountain.”

Following the exchange, Edward Mountain MSP said:

“Whilst I welcome the National Treatment Centre, there remain very good reasons as to why orthopaedic teams should continue to visit local hospitals in the Far North to carry out minor procedures and case reviews.

“The right balance needs to be struck and I welcome that the Cabinet Secretary will raise the matter with NHS Highland.”