Inverness £850k bus gate anger and frustration - plus Highland healthcare and SNP ‘taking voters for granted’

Bring back convalescent homes

Every media article on the NHS whether it’s English or Scottish ends with that old seemingly unsolvable bed blocking problem.

Now we are to be subjected to the Scottish health minister Neil Gray’s efforts at solving this seeming insurmountable problem.

Let’s save the Scottish taxpayers money on the subject by offering him and, if they’re listening, the English health authorities a solution: convalescent homes.

I here you ask what is a convalescent home. The English dictionary quotes: A convalescent home is a place where people go for a period of time to get help to recover after an operation, surgery, illness or injury.

Both Conservatives and Labour hold responsibility for closing the existing ones with the care at home policy.

Who remembers the saying “get on your bike”, encouraging the working population to move around the country to look for work.

This was a disaster for family groups who for generations looked after their elderly.

In the main the Cabinets making up policies, Tory and Labour, were brought up by nannies, spoon fed at university and had no concept of family unity.

So the care at home policy was doomed before it started by early political decisions.

Are there any convalescent homes left? Probably not. But in the short term, as with the well looked after immigrants, we could use wings of hotels etc, staff them with care staff and use their facilities. This would immediately see discharges from hospital, thereby creating much-needed bed space. Hospital lists would start decreasing, a win-win situation.

You may ask why our politicians haven’t thought of this.

Even I don’t believe that once elected their brain capacity sinks to zero, but I do believe that they, and I generally lump them together, don’t think of simple solutions. It’s the big ideas, big money, big praise syndrome.

Finlay G Mackintosh

Forres

SNP ‘taking voters in Inverness for granted’

Reports of internal divisions within the SNP and moves to block Fergus Ewing from being their candidate next year highlight that we're a long drive up the undualled A9 for central belt government ministers.

The SNP are taking voters in Inverness for granted. Their own MSP has told them they were "no longer putting Scotland first".

Fergus now faces deselection for standing up for constituents.

We have a chance next year to send a clear message to the SNP - the Highlands demand better.

Shaun Fraser

Inshes

£850k bus gate ‘plagued by problems’

An Inverness public transport link which took 13 years to achieve, cost £850,000 and was mired in controversy is still experiencing problems a year after it opened.

The Raigmore Hospital bus gate, linking the hospital and Raigmore housing estate, is intended to improve bus travel between the city centre and the east side of Inverness.

But the barrier system - which is also for use by emergency service vehicles - often fails to open, according to perplexed community leaders and nearby residents who are calling for urgent action.

“Is there a breakdown of this £850,000 available anywhere. Would love to see how they’ve managed to rack that up..” - Niven Ross

“I cannot believe how much this fiasco cost, it’s either not working or you have to wait if the helipad is in use and in all the times I travel into town you rarely get any passengers in the estate, sure,y the powers that be could have come up with an easier and cheaper option.” - Jan Duncan

“Active Travel mulurky. It is part of planning condition, assigned to UHI Campus, New Treatment Centre. To get folk using buses more. Not that this was anywhere near campus. I spent nine months to get this route, rather than other bonkers one being suggested. Cutting down 200 year old oak trees! Also to have it heard at a planning committee rather than three of us ward councillors, making decision, which would have gone through then, if I didn't question it. Public funds were to be spent on active travel route, come what may! Another public quango using public funds. I leave you to your thoughts....I for one have been frustrated again!”- Isabelle Mackenzie

“Isabelle MacKenzie, You are to be applauded.. the moaners on here haven't got a clue what it was like to live on the Estate before, and how Stagecoach couldn't run a decent bus service when Raigmore Estate was so low in the scheme of things. Before the bus gate, people were stranded at the bus stops - and left for hours at a time without transport. It is vital though, that the barrier works at all times, especially if ambulances are using it for emergency access to the Estate.” - Alan Ross

“I've seen the bus pulling up to the gate a few times for it not to open. The bus then has to reverse back out the junction. Great job to all involved.” - Craig Robertson

“Craig Robertson, Then after reversing go back to hospital, along Old Perth Road by the barracks and instead of turning left for town go right and up to Raigmore Estate before then coming back down for town. Not the drivers fault but the gate use needs reevaluated.” - Bev Petrie

“More tax payers money wasted, but they keep pushing up the taxes because of their incompetence.” - Charlie Mackay

Letters should be submitted to newsdesk@hnmedia.co.uk. Please include your address and a daytime contact number. You can also tweet us: @InvCourier or leave a comment on Facebook @invernesscourier

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