{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}} {{Use British English|date=July 2015}} {{Infobox hospital | name = Caithness General Hospital | org_group = NHS Highland | image = Caithness General Hospital, Wick - geograph.org.uk - 5113243.jpg | caption = Caithness General Hospital | pushpin_map = Scotland Caithness | pushpin_map_caption = Shown in Caithness | logo = <!-- optional --> | region = Caithness, Highland | country = Scotland | coordinates = {{Coord|58|26|29|N|3|5|39|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | healthcare = NHS Scotland | funding = Scottish Government | type = Rural General | speciality = <!-- if devoted to a speciality, i.e. not if has broad spectrum of specialities --> | standards = <!-- optional if no national standards --> | emergency = Yes | helipad = | affiliation = | beds = 44 | founded = 1986 | closed = <!--N/A--> | website = {{URL|http://www.cgh.scot.nhs.uk}} | other_links = <!-- optional --> }}
'''Caithness General Hospital''' is a rural general hospital operated by NHS Highland, located in Wick, Caithness, Scotland. It is managed by NHS Highland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/Services/Pages/CaithnessGeneralHospital.aspx|title=Caithness General Hospital|publisher=NHS Highland|accessdate=27 December 2018}}</ref>
==History== The hospital became operational in 1986 to replace the previous Caithness Central Hospital.<ref name=DukeRothesayVisit>{{cite press release |url=http://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/News/Pages/TheDukeofRothesayvisitsCaithnessGeneralHospital.aspx |title=The Duke of Rothesay visits Caithness General Hospital |publisher=NHS Highland |date=10 August 2011 |accessdate=1 June 2014}}</ref> A new Day Case Unit was opened by Sam Galbraith in 1999.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/1999/03/81669133-eef3-41d6-afe8-5089feb5a8ab |archiveurl=https://wayback.archive-it.org/3011/20130205135403/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/1999/03/81669133-eef3-41d6-afe8-5089feb5a8ab |archivedate=5 February 2013 |title=Galbraith visits Caithness General Hospital |publisher=Scottish Government |date=17 March 1999}}</ref> A CT scanner service was introduced in August 2008.<ref name=DukeRothesayVisit />
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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/caithness-women-travelling-100-miles-to-give-birth-1-3269872 |title=Caithness women travelling 100 miles to give birth |work=The Scotsman |date=15 January 2014|accessdate=17 July 2014}}</ref> In November 2016 the NHS Highland board approved the introduction of a community midwifery unit.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-38141972 |title=Maternity plan for Caithness General approved by NHS board |work=BBC News |date=29 November 2016 |accessdate=11 February 2017}}</ref>
==Services== ===Capacity=== The hospital has the capacity to accommodate 44 inpatients: 20 acute assessment beds, 24 post-acute and rehabilitation beds.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/your-services/in-person-services-and-locations/hospitals/caithness-general-hospital-wick/caithness-general-hospital-services/ |title=Caithness General Hospital services |publisher=NHS Highland |website=www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk |date=27 December 2023 |accessdate=16 May 2024}}</ref> Its services include: 24-hour Accident & Emergency department, assessment and rehabilitation, general medicine, general surgery, community midwifery unit and palliative care.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-24834988 |title=Wick's Caithness General 'meeting most' hygiene rules |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=6 November 2013}}</ref>
===Emergency surgical services=== 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-30380070 |title=Caithness General to stop overnight and weekend surgery |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=8 December 2014}}</ref> A meeting between the health board and community leaders to discuss staff shortages was then scheduled for 6 January 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-30587254 |title=Talks to be held over Caithness General consultant shortages | work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=23 December 2014}}</ref>
=== Community midwife unit === In January 2017, the hospital completed the introduction of a midwife-led unit.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-38810645 |title=Midwife-led unit introduced at Caithness General in Wick |work=BBC News |date=31 January 2017 |accessdate=11 February 2017}}</ref> {{As of|2015}}, there are an estimated 136 births a year at the hospital; it has full accreditation as baby friendly, since November 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://unicefbfi.force.com/Events/Awards?facility=001A000000iH0pmIAC |title=Baby Friendly accreditation: Caithness General Hospital |publisher=Baby Friendly Initiative |accessdate=4 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/News/Pages/Caithnessmaternityunitreceivesinternationalrecognition.aspx |title=Caithness maternity unit receives international recognition |publisher=NHS Highland |date=10 April 2012 |accessdate=1 June 2014}}</ref>
==Hospital radio== Radio Remedy is a volunteer-run radio station based at the hospital.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radioremedy.co.uk|title=Radio Remedy|publisher=Radio Remedy|accessdate=1 June 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516204337/http://radioremedy.co.uk/|archivedate=16 May 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website}}
{{Hospitals in NHS Highland}} {{authority control}}
Category:Hospital buildings completed in 1986 Category:NHS Highland Category:NHS Scotland hospitals Category:Hospitals in Highland (council area) Category:Buildings and structures in Caithness Category:Wick, Caithness