The boss of NHS Western Isles has said the suspension of flights to the islands has come at the “worst possible time” for patients.
Chief executive Gordon Jamieson has revealed at least 500 people from the islands will be impacted by Loganair’s decision to suspend flights from Inverness due to ongoing industrial action over pay.
The airline announced the move last week and has come under fire for holding islanders to ransom – but insist that it is to prevent last-minute cancellations and delays while staff are working to rule.
The suspension of services begins on March 17 and will last six weeks until the end of April.
Mr Jamieson today laid bare the impact it will have on patients flying to Inverness for treatment, or relying on consultants to fly to the islands.
NHS Western Isles only found out about the suspension plans late on Friday, and have since been working hard to make alternative arrangements to minimise the impact on patients.
However, the health board said it has “limited options” when a “lifeline service” has been suspended.
‘Worst possible time’ for under-pressure NHS
Mr Jamieson said: “With the exception of the pandemic, this action potentially presents us with the most significant disruption to patient services that we have experienced.
“Whilst there would never be a ‘good’ time for a service reduction, this action has come at the worst possible time when there is already significant pressure on the NHS, which makes it difficult to secure alternative options for patients.
“Our staff across the service are working with colleagues at NHS Highland to ensure that, where there is an alternative arrangement, that we rapidly put that in place.”
Almost immediately, staff could see that 230 patients, who require to travel to Inverness for appointments, could be impacted. They are working to make alternative arrangements for those well enough to travel by ferry.
Up to an additional 270 patients who were scheduled to attend an appointment on-island with a visiting consultant could potentially also still be affected by the suspension of flights.
This includes appointments, for example, in ophthalmology, orthotics, ENT and urology.
Some consultants have already agreed to travel to the Western Isles by ferry or to travel from Glasgow – meaning 100 appointments have been kept.
Efforts ongoing to minimise impact
Inter-island flights between Benbecula and Stornoway has made sure patients travelling on Tuesdays for chemotherapy are unaffected. Blood and chemotherapy deliveries are also currently unaffected.
Mr Jamieson added: “Whilst there will be a workaround for some patients, we are conscious that some patients will miss important appointments, and we continue to explore all options to avoid, as far as possible, any adverse impact.
“We would offer our apologies to patients for the unprecedented disruption to services that the suspension of flight services will cause for a prolonged period and would reassure everyone that we will continue to work with patients, partners on the mainland and with Scottish Government colleagues to minimise the impact, where we can, for individuals and families.”
A spokesman for Loganair said that it was hoped that by cancelling the flights in advance, people who used its services could make plans to use alternative transport.
He said: “With the industrial action continuing – several days of stoppages this week followed by the work-to-rule thereafter – the cumulative effect of those actions leads to an unacceptably high likelihood of flight cancellations on a small number of routes between Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) airports.
“The remainder of our services to the Highlands and Islands remain unaffected, linking eight communities to points such as Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow where there is no industrial action.
“However, when flying between HIAL airports, there is every possibility of disruption with little or no notice, most often on the day of the flight itself.
“That clearly is a situation which serves no one’s interests, particularly those travelling for medical appointments which would then be missed.
“It’s to avoid that very scenario that we’ve temporarily suspended services between HIAL airports, and we did so only after consideration of all possible alternatives.”
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