A Scottish Soldier - July 2004

I don't know how many people are aware of the changes(threatend) that are due to take place within local health services. I'm sure lots have read about the new super-centre at Paisley. They argue this is because the majority of their clientel live sarf of the Clyde. Funny that we on Mull can buck the trend and move further away from the majority of those who live on Mull.
This will entail a lot of unwell teddy bears being shipped to Paisley when they are maybe just a Tad delicate. Yes the press are declaring that "acute" services are staying in Oban, but note the only 24hr care is in Glasgow! Not only this but the proposal for Mull is to reduce our no., of beds to just 4. meaning that the capacity to have patients returned quickly will be practically zero.

With the increase in the number of vunerable and elderly people living in remote areas, and the added stress for families who may need now to travel further to visit relations in hospital, (and who knows with the "difficulties" Nhs Argyll&Clyde find themselves in, can they afford a 4 bed hospital?), we mustn't forget to maybe keep our ears and eyes open for changes happening now under our noses.
Apart from that we've been lucky with the weather, had an unfortunate meeting with the whale watchers who mistook me for some form exotic aquatic life-form as I swam near Croig. I was sure that summer diet had worked!?!