| Caithness General Hospital | |
| Org/Group: | NHS Highland |
| Map Type: | Scotland Caithness |
| Region: | Caithness, Highland |
| Country: | Scotland |
| Healthcare: | NHS Scotland |
| Funding: | Scottish Government |
| Type: | Rural General |
| Emergency: | Yes |
| Beds: | 44 |
| Founded: | 1986 |
Caithness General Hospital is a rural general hospital operated by NHS Highland, located in Wick, Caithness, Scotland. It is managed by NHS Highland.[1]
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.
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]
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]
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]
In January 2017, the hospital completed the introduction of a midwife-led unit.[10], there are an estimated 136 births a year at the hospital; it has full accreditation as baby friendly, since November 2009.[11] [12]
Radio Remedy is a volunteer-run radio station based at the hospital.[13]