Health chief gives assurance that Minor Injuries Unit at Golspie 'will reopen in near future'
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A NORTH health chief has said that a review into the Minor Injuries Unit at Golspie, which has been closed since the onset of the pandemic, is “in its final stages” and the unit would soon reopen.
NHS Highland chief executive Pam Dudek was responding to a query from Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain about the situation regarding the facility, located in the Cambusavie Unit next to the Lawson Memorial Hospital.
Health managers have previously said they were considering moving the unit from its present cramped accommodation into the Lawson Memorial Hospital itself.
However, Ms Dudek has now told Mr Mountain: “Please be reassured that the minor injuries unit will remain within the same building it was originally in and will not be relocated.”
She stated: “It is taking some time to identify how to safely reopen the unit without putting the inpatients (in the Cambusavie Unit) at risk.
“However, it has been confirmed that this review is at the final stages and a meeting with NHS Highland Estates Department has taken place.
“We are awaiting costings and time scales for the required work from our estates department. I can assure you that this work will take place in the near future and the MIU will reopen.”
Mr Mountain said: “I welcome this reassurance and I will hold NHS Highland to that commitment.
“However, I continue to be concerned at the time it is taking to reopen the unit. While I am pleased that the review is in the final stages, we need to see swifter progress from now on.
“The local community deserves more clarity over the time frame for reopening the facility and I will be taking up this issue with the health board.”
