Community / Infrastructure key challenge for future of healthcare in Skerries, meeting hears
THE CHALLENGES of delivering health and care services in Skerries has been highlighted by NHS chiefs, with the lack of infrastructure a key barrier.
NHS Shetland’s chief nurse Edna Mary Watson and Simon Bokor-Ingram, when he was in position of interim chief executive of the health board, recently visited the island group to meet residents.
Speaking at a meeting of Shetland’s health and social care partnership the integration joint board on Thursday, Watson said a declining population – and an ageing population – was also a big factor.
She told members that the younger population was off the island for work and there was no-one under the age of 65 in Skerries during the day. A few years ago it was thought that the permanent population was around 30-something.
“It’s very challenging that there are no young people,” Watson said, with a lack of employment opportunities driving folk away.
Skerries is served by a resident district nurse, while medical cover is provided by the Whalsay Health Centre.
A report presented to members of the IJB said the infrastructure challenges will “impact on future sustainability of services”.
Poor broadband provision was one aspect of infrastructure that continues to prove a challenge, with the Attend Anywhere virtual clinic system – which has been a success in areas like Unst – unable to take off.
If that was brought to Skerries it would have to be delivered through satellite broadband, which would have to be limited to the nurse’s house.
Bokor-Ingram said he believed the local community were grateful for the visit.
“It was a very high quality conversation,” he said.
“I think we left with a more deeper understanding of some of the challenges.”
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