Our Health Service

When we first came to Kilchoan we had a young daughter, so the quality of health provision in this beautiful, remote village caused us some concern. We needn't have worried. Over the years, the care we have enjoyed here has been wonderful. In fact, we often tell people that Kilchoan is the model upon which the whole of the NHS primary care should be based. Where else could one go for a walk at 11 on a Sunday morning, fall down a slope and cut a hand deeply, yet have it cleaned and dressed by a qualified nurse and be back walking an hour later?

It takes the Strontian ambulance upward of an hour to reach us, and the nearest hospital with A&E is in Fort William. The nearest doctor is an hour away, and there are only two surgeries a week in the village. But all these matter so much less when we have two excellent District Nurses living in the village. It is the dedicated service that Jessie Colquhoun and Carolyn Ellis give which is so fundamental to the quality of our care.

What they can offer has changed. Until recently, one of them, or a relief nurse, was available at the end of a phone at all hours of day or night. Now, they work 9am to 5pm seven days a week - but they will still attend out-of-hours if called out by NHS24.

But one thing has not changed. Jessie and Carolyn are District Nurses, and are paid to do the work any other District Nurse does. Where else do District Nurses take on the additional responsibility of emergency aid, attending heart attacks, or ministering to stroke patients? It is a terrible responsibility so far from other medical support, yet Jessie and Carolyn do it willingly - and voluntarily.

With Jessie away on sick leave our privileged system, which so depends on these two ladies' good will, crashed. At least twice in the last week, the nearest nurse has been in Strontian, an hour away down treacherous roads. This is bad enough, particularly as a nasty accident occurred during one of these gaps when someone slipped and fell on ice, cutting her head, but the failure of the local NHS managers to provide cover has undermined a further change which they are urging the village to accept.

This change is the training of a group of residents as unpaid First Responders. A number of people have, very generously, volunteered for this responsible task. But, as I understand it, the condition has been that there would always be a full-time nurse available near-at-hand to give them support. Events in the last few days seem to have proved that they cannot rely on that promise.

JH