YOUR VIEWS: Highland maternity care and 'terrorised' at Inverness car park

Fears over future of maternity care

Highlands Conservative MSP Edward Mountain recently questioned Scotland’s health secretary at Holyrood over a "pause” in NHS capital projects that is impacting on plans to expand maternity care at Raigore Hospital. He raised the spectre of pregnant women, especially from the Caithness area where maternity services are already believed by many to be inadequate, having to travel to Aberdeen or even Perth to give birth.

“I am delighted to see that Edward Mountain MSP has raised concern about the postponement of maternity services improvements at Raigmore on behalf of parents in the Highlands. The current inadequate maternity unit at Raigmore affects thousands of Highland families every year, and the wonderful staff who care for them, not only women from Caithness. I regularly hear feedback from women that staffing levels are too low, and how the outdated and cramped facilities on the unit have affected their care. Managers confirm that recruitment is particularly challenging. Delays to this refurbishment can only worsen recruitment difficulties. Women regularly comment on how wonderful the staff are, but also report that midwives on the unit are visibly stressed when short staffed. Facilities on the unit are out of date and fall far short of what women in other parts of Scotland can access.” – Carol Janes, Tain

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Disabled man ‘terrorised’ by charge

An Inverness man recently told how he felt “terrorised” after receiving a parking charge at Rose Street Retail Park. Michael Holmes (75) was stunned to receive a charge – despite having a blue badge. Mr Holmes did not realise the car park had changed ownership and that those with disabled badges are now required to pay. He claims there was no clear signs saying they had to pay.

“I also have a blue badge and shopped at the shops around Rose Street car park. After receiving a fine which I’ve ignored I don’t park there now, I go elsewhere, so I can imagine those shops have lost a lot of trade. It’s a shame as being disabled I found it handy to use these shops. The big supermarkets have free parking but the stores are so big to walk round it takes a lot out of disabled people. I would love to see the disabled places being returned back to being free, after all we pay for our blue badges, it only feels fair.” – TCD, Inverness

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