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NHS Western Isles is in the news this morning in connection with the Bethesda Hospice in Stornoway. According to our MSP the Hospice could be deregistered at the end of May as it no longer conforms to the regulations for Hospices. These require a doctor, who specialises in palliative care, to be available.

Hospices care for people who are in the last stages of life, to give them as good a quality of life as care and their own physical condition allows. The Bethesda Hospice is privately run, with medical cover provided through the Western Isles Health Board.

The Board's medical director stated that the GP who previously provided cover had to withdraw service as the practice could no longer sustain her in that position. Furthermore, NHS Western Isles did not feel that a population of 25,000 merited a palliative care specialist in the islands.

I think that our MSP was absolutely justified in calling for the resignation of the Board's Chief Executive, Medical Director and Chairman. It is totally unacceptable that people in the last stages of their lives may be required to stay in an acute hospital (like Western Isles Hospital), which is already short of beds. Or worse, may be required a transfer to a mainland hospice. Furthermore, the Bethesda Hospice is strongly supported by the local community, receiving a large amount of charitable donations.

If the mismanagement was not already reason enough, this is another reason for the Board's management to be replaced. The Medical Director has shown himself to be totally out of touch with the community he is supposed to serve. The MSP will raise the issue in the Scottish Parliament at the next opportunity.