Health chiefs in the north claim a shortage of affordable housing is an obstacle to attracting enough frontline medical staff to Skye.
NHS Highland bosses fear that if housing needs are not met, efforts to recruit and retain skilled healthcare personnel will be undermined.
They say it has a knock-on effect on the availability and provision of suitable healthcare with the island’s services already suffering from staff shortages.
The issue was highlighted when a newly recruited midwife was initially unable to locate a suitable home for herself and her pet dog.
Jacqui Bradley was appointed in December to assist with the restoration of the Out of Hours Midwifery Service that has been suspended since November due to a lack of a qualified midwife.
Kate Earnshaw, NHS Highland’s district manager for Skye, Lochalsh and Wester Ross, said: “Happily, a solution has now been found.”
“However, we remain concerned about the ongoing challenges with a number of other posts we are about to recruit.”
She added: “We are interviewing for an advanced nurse practitioner next week and accommodation is, again, likely to be an issue.”
The Scottish Government has set a target of building 50,000 new homes in the Highland Region to meet demand.
Kate Forbes MSP said: “There is a very serious shortage of affordable housing in Skye and Lochalsh, as average house prices are high.”
“Housing is the number one most common issue raised with me and I’m fighting hard to get as many of the 50,000 new homes built on Skye.
“These need to be built in Skye and Lochalsh to support key workers like healthcare professionals.”
She added: “That is obviously only suitable over the longer term and for people like healthcare professionals.”
Councillor Calum MacLeod acknowledges that Skye could be a victim of its own success in the “tourism phenomenon.”
He said: “It is unfortunate that a a side-effect of tourism is landlords turning to for let purposes. That is something we’re aware of, particularly regarding NHS workers.”
“It will not be a quick fix but I would be looking to work with partner agencies such as Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association.”
“We need to see if we can work in tandem with NHS Highland and see more connection with partner agencies.”