WATCH: Elderly Thurso woman's emotional plea for local NHS services

Dorothy Anderson, 79, wants Nicola Sturgeon & Shona Robison to visit.

Author: Bryan Rutherford Published 12th Feb 2018

Last updated 12th Feb 2018

"Would any of them be happy to let their mother or their granny travel in a train - if it's going - for four and a half hours, or in a bus - if it doesn't break down half way?" - DOROTHY ANDERSON

A Thurso pensioner's emotional video appeal for the First Minister and Health Secretary to meet her, has been watched over 20,000-times on social media.

Dorothy Anderson gets up at 5am once a month just to make a 10 to 15-minute hospital appointment for, 100-miles-away at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

She has a neuromuscular disease called Myasthenia gravis.

The 79-year-old is calling for a rethink over continued centralisation of NHS services in the Highland capital, which forces taxpayers in Caithness and Sutherland to journey down the A9, or use public transport, instead of visiting Caithness General Hospital.

In a tearful Facebook video posted by the pressure group Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT) Mrs Anderson invites First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Government's Health Secretary Shona Robison, and NHS Highland's chief executive Elaine Mead into her home.

She says: "Would any of them be happy to let their mother or their granny travel in a train - if it's going - for four and a half hours, or in a bus - if it doesn't break down half way?

"I would just like them to come to my house any time and have a chat. I could tell them so many stories.

"I'm one of the lucky ones because I've got a good family, but I know a lot of people are on their own, and I'm fighting for them, and for my grandchildren.

"People are not going to come up here with their young families to live, if there's not a decent hospital within a hundred miles."

WATCH: Dorothy's full message for the decision-makers..

"No services stay the same forever, and it's important that services and changes to services can be discussed, but they have to be discussed in an atmosphere of mutual trust" - HEALTH SECRETARY

Last week Caithness healthcare campaigners travelled over 250-miles just to meet with Shona Robison to discuss the group's ongoing fears over the uncertain futures of Wick Town and County Hospital in Wick, and The Dunbar in Thurso, as the health board continues to consider a so-called 're-design' of services.

After the meeting the minister in-charge of Scotland's NHS told MFR News: "NHS Highland have recognised that if they're going to suggest changes to services, they set out very clearly what it is they want to do, and have those early discussions with local people.

"NHS Highland have stepped back from those service change proposals, and they're going to learn the lessons from that.

"I was very clear at the meeting of my expectations that good communication with the local population is key.

"No services stay the same forever, and it's important that services and changes to services can be discussed, but they have to be discussed in an atmosphere of mutual trust."

The meeting came after Caithness General's maternity unit was downgraded to a midwives only facility, with first-time mums and complicated births having to be treated by specialist doctors 100-miles away at Raigmore.