NHS Highland response to anticipated Industrial Action

In response to the anticipated Industrial Action on Wednesday 30th November, NHS Highland is already in the process of implementing our Business Continuity Plans across the Board area and have already taken the decision to plan to run a limited service in our hospitals.

Our priority and responsibility is at all times to ensure we run a safe service.

We will be maintaining all emergency services and core clinical services as identified in our Board Business Continuity Plan, which includes cancer treatments, renal dialysis, and emergency mental health and maternity services.

Anyone who is currently receiving a course of daily or weekly treatment will also not be affected.

However, to maintain safe services we will have to cancel most non urgent activity including most outpatient clinics, day surgery and elective surgery.

Elaine Mead, Chief Executive for NHS Highland said: “We have begun to identify exactly what will run and have started to contact patients directly to inform them if their appointment is cancelled on the 30th November. We are no longer booking non urgent appointments for that day, however if your appointment is urgent you will be seen.

“We are working closely with our staff to clarify all these arrangements. We are also working with our partner agencies, NHS24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service, to clarify what services they will be running.

“While we respect the right of colleagues to take industrial action we would like to reassure patients and the wider public that we have robust business continuity plans and there will be no disruption to emergency services and safe care.”

Planning has already begun to ensure that any patient who has had to be cancelled will be re-booked as a matter of priority.

If patients have any queries or concerns at this stage please contact NHS Highland using the contact telephone number on their appointment letter.