Fears for patient care in Highland shake-up

THE head of Scotland’s nursing union has criticised plans to overhaul care in the north as damaging for patients and staff morale.

Director of the Royal College of Nursing in Scotland, Theresa Fyffe, spoke out against the speed of plans to merge health and social care in the region.

NHS Highland has agreed to take control of adult community care, which could include community nursing, day, respite, home and social work community care, while Highland Council has agreed to oversee children’s services, including school nurses, early-years health visitors, educational psychologists, primary mental health workers, children in care and children and families’ social work.