10th February 2026
When NHS Highland first unveiled its plans for new community hubs in Caithness, the mood was hopeful.
Wick and Thurso were promised modern, integrated facilities "care villages" that would bring health and social services together under one roof.
The consultations were extensive, the design teams appointed, and the rhetoric was strong and this was the future of rural healthcare.
But years later, Wick is still waiting. The hub remains a paper project, a vision without bricks or mortar. What happened?
The Strategy
Ambition and Engagement
Community Consultation (2016-2018): NHS Highland engaged widely with local residents, promising hubs that would replace outdated hospitals and fragmented services.
Design Phase (2023)
Architects and engineers were appointed, with Hub North Scotland named as infrastructure partner. Wick's Noss site was earmarked for development.
Strategic Goals:
Modernise facilities.
Integrate health and social care.
Improve patient access and community trust.
The Reality
Delay and Disappointment
No Construction: Despite design appointments, not a single brick has been laid in Wick.
Community Frustration: Residents feel promises have evaporated, with existing facilities still under strain.
Budget Pressures
NHS Highland faces financial constraints, staffing shortages, and competing priorities across the region.
Trust Gap
The gap between consultation optimism and delivery failure has eroded confidence in the health board.
Strategy vs. Reality
Aspect Strategy (Consultation & Plans) Reality (2026)
Why It Matters
For Caithness, the Wick hub was more than a building project. It symbolised a commitment to rural healthcare, a promise that communities outside Inverness would not be left behind. The failure to deliver risks deepening the sense of neglect felt in the far north.
Consultation Without Delivery
The Wick medical hub story is a cautionary tale.
Consultation without delivery breeds cynicism. Communities are told their voices matter, but when promises stall, trust collapses. NHS Highland must decide o either recommit to building the hub or admit the project has failed. Anything less is another broken promise to Caithness.