The Scottish Government has been asked to review controversial plans to redesign hospital services in Skye, Lochalsh and Wester Ross.
The convener of Holyrood’s Public Petitions Committee said there is a “strong argument” that the administration should investigate the revamp of facilities at Broadford and Portree.
NHS Highland proposes to scrap accident and emergency services at Portree Hospital, sparking a furious response from local residents.
The group “SOS NHS Skye” has delivered a petition to the Scottish Parliament – signed by more than 4,500 people – demanding an independent investigation.
Speaking as the petition was raised again at Holyrood yesterday, Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant said: “There are a number of issues and while we all recognise we need to move ahead to build a hospital to allow people to access more specialist care locally, I think there is also an issue about the health board speaking and listening to the community.”
Broadford was chosen in 2014 as the location for the main hospital on the island, with the larger community of Portree to host a smaller “spoke” health centre.
The committee’s deputy convener said there was a case for a review after leading economist Professor Ronald Macdonald said the business case for the changes was “seriously flawed”.
Angus Macdonald MSP said: “I think there’s a strong argument to write to the Scottish Government to ask whether it would reconsider the decision to approve (NHS Highland’s plans), in light of the economic analysis that has been received from Professor Macdonald.
“Given there are examples of the Scottish Government overturning major service changes following independent scrutiny panels, I think it is worth one further attempt to ask the Scottish Government what their view would be on setting up an independent scrutiny panel to look at it.”
Professor MacDonald said the health board’s economic appraisal for the proposed upgrade to Broadford Hospital failed to account for potential “significant costs” to the public by siting it at a distance from the main population in Portree.
An NHS Highland spokesman said they would expect discussions to be “ongoing over the next few years”, adding: “It is a major project and we agree it is important to get it right. We believe we have a very solid plan that will deliver for all of the communities but we need ongoing input to make sure everything comes together.”
An NHS Highland spokesman said: “We would expect discussions and engagement to be ongoing over the next few years.
“It is a major project and we agree it is important to get it right. We believe we have a very solid plan that will deliver for all of the communities but we need ongoing input to make sure everything comes together.
“We already have agreed joint working with Scottish Ambulance Service to look at cardiac pathways in the north.
“A meeting will take place in Portree on Wednesday, November 2 which will allow us to hear from professionals and locals residents about understanding current and future arrangements for cardiac patients.”