Islanders angry at state of Portree health services

Residents of Skye say they are angry that improvements to health services recommended six years ago have not been fully implemented.

About 100 people joined a protest in Portree on Saturday ahead of a meeting between campaigners and NHS Highland on Monday to discuss the state of provision in the north of the island.

An independent review made its recommendations in 2018, but the Skye SOS campaign said it is still waiting for urgent care services and more hospital beds.

NHS Highland said it would continue to work in partnership to design and develop services that met the needs of the community both now and in the future.

Fay Thomson of Skye SOS told BBC Radio Scotland that people in north Skye were scared about how they would access urgent care if they needed it.

The nearest services are about 25 miles away in Broadford.

She said residents were not the only ones who relied on local health care provision, and said more than a million tourists were expected to visit Skye this year.

Ms Thomson told BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live programme a lack of funding might be a challenge for NHS Highland now, but she believed that was not always the case over the last six years.

She said Monday's meeting had not eased residents' concerns.

"We are talking people's wellbeing and the wellbeing of future generations. We will continue to campaign. We will not give up," she said.