Cole-Hamilton urges First Minister to tackle rural healthcare crisis

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon during First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“The emergency care system collapsed on Skye last weekend.

“Eilidh Beaton’s life-threatening anaphylactic shock happened virtually on the doorstep of Portree Hospital.

“Five EpiPens administered to keep her alive, lifeboat volunteers hammering on the doors, her boyfriend literally threw rocks at the windows of the hospital- all because the doors were locked.

"For six years the government has known about the Ritchie Report. Six years, and the doors were still locked.

"Skye isn’t alone in the hollowing out of rural healthcare.

"Just ask the mums who have to drive 100 miles down the treacherous A9 in labour because their local maternity unit in Caithness was closed.

"The day before the emergency on Skye, I was in the Highlands. I called on the new First Minister directly, again, to get the Portree Hospital open for emergency care. We keep asking.

"Why has it taken six years and a near fatality for his government to finally lift up the phone to NHS Highland about emergency care on Skye?"