| Caithness General Hospital | |
|---|---|
| NHS Highland | |
 Caithness General Hospital | |
  Shown in Caithness | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Caithness, Highland, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 58°26′29″N 3°5′39″W / 58.44139°N 3.09417°W |
| Organisation | |
| Care system | NHS Scotland |
| Funding | Scottish Government |
| Type | Rural General |
| Services | |
| Emergency department | Yes |
| Beds | 44 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1986 |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
Caithness General Hospital is a rural general hospital operated by NHS Highland, located in Wick, Caithness, Scotland. It is managed by NHS Highland.[1]
History
[edit]The hospital became operational in 1986 to replace the previous Caithness Central Hospital.[2] A new Day Case Unit was opened by Sam Galbraith in 1999.[3] A CT scanner service was introduced in August 2008.[2]
The hospital formerly had a consultant-led maternity unit, but stringent application of clinical risk assessment criteria meant that in 2012 and 2013 around 30% of pregnant women in the Caithness area needed to travel to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness to give birth.[4] In November 2016 the NHS Highland board approved the introduction of a community midwifery unit.[5]
Services
[edit]Capacity
[edit]The hospital has the capacity to accommodate 44 inpatients: 20 acute assessment beds, 24 post-acute and rehabilitation beds.[6] Its services include: 24-hour Accident & Emergency department, assessment and rehabilitation, general medicine, general surgery, community midwifery unit and palliative care.[7]
Emergency surgical services
[edit]In December 2014 the health board announced that emergency surgical services would not be available at night or weekends from 15 December 2014, due to a lack of suitable consultant cover.[8] A meeting between the health board and community leaders to discuss staff shortages was then scheduled for 6 January 2015.[9]
Community midwife unit
[edit]In January 2017, the hospital completed the introduction of a midwife-led unit.[10] As of 2015[update], there are an estimated 136 births a year at the hospital; it has full accreditation as baby friendly, since November 2009.[11][12]
Hospital radio
[edit]Radio Remedy is a volunteer-run radio station based at the hospital.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Caithness General Hospital". NHS Highland. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
- ^ a b "The Duke of Rothesay visits Caithness General Hospital" (Press release). NHS Highland. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ^ "Galbraith visits Caithness General Hospital" (Press release). Scottish Government. 17 March 1999. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013.
- ^ "Caithness women travelling 100 miles to give birth". The Scotsman. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- ^ "Maternity plan for Caithness General approved by NHS board". BBC News. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ^ "Caithness General Hospital services". www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk. NHS Highland. 27 December 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ "Wick's Caithness General 'meeting most' hygiene rules". BBC News. BBC. 6 November 2013.
- ^ "Caithness General to stop overnight and weekend surgery". BBC News. BBC. 8 December 2014.
- ^ "Talks to be held over Caithness General consultant shortages". BBC News. BBC. 23 December 2014.
- ^ "Midwife-led unit introduced at Caithness General in Wick". BBC News. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ^ "Baby Friendly accreditation: Caithness General Hospital". Baby Friendly Initiative. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ^ "Caithness maternity unit receives international recognition". NHS Highland. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ^ "Radio Remedy". Radio Remedy. Archived from the original on 16 May 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
External links
[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |