An emergency care unit at a hospital in Caithness has fully reopened.
The minor injuries unit (MIU) at Thurso’s Dunbar Hospital was closed completely over the weekend because of staffing shortages.
It reopened with a restricted hours service on Monday and returned to normal 24/7 service yesterday.
However, the health board warned yesterday it will continue to monitor the situation because of ongoing staffing problems.
Michelle Johnstone, NHS Highland’s area manager covering Caithness and Sutherland, said: “I can confirm that, as of today, we have been able to return the MIU at Dunbar back to its normal 24/7 service.
“However, we still need to recruit qualified nursing staff and so, until that happens, we shall be carefully monitoring staffing levels to ensure that we always provide a safe service.
“I would like to remind the public that the unit at Dunbar does not deal with anything serious or life threatening.
“That level of care is, and always has been, provided at Caithness General Hospital.”
She added: “I am grateful to the staff at unit for helping us to fully re-open so quickly, and I apologise to all concerned for any inconvenience.”
Posts at the unit have been advertised since before Christmas but the board has been unable to recruit staff with the necessary qualifications.
NHS Highland has said it will make extra efforts to re-advertise the posts in order to resolve the problems.