MSP welcomes health board's community storm action

15th April 2015

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP and Shadow Minister for Health Inequalities, Rhoda Grant, has welcomed proactive action being taken by NHS Highland to mitigate disruption during power failures.

After meeting with engineers who braved appalling weather conditions to reconnect homes and properties during the atrocious storms experienced in January, the MSP wrote to all health boards in the Highlands and Islands region advising them of Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution's ‘Priority Services Register’, encouraging the health boards to promote the register amongst vulnerable people in their area.

Mrs Grant says she is pleased to be advised by the Chief Executive of NHS Highland, Elaine Mead, that they work closely with SSE and have active engagement with them during response to severe weather/power outages. The Priority Services Register is publicised widely via the Emergency Planning Group and leaflets are available in Health Centres and Doctors’ Surgeries.

Commenting, Mrs Grant said "Emergency Planning Teams did an outstanding job, in extremely difficult circumstances, in ensuring that those who needed assistance got assistance and that homes and premises were reconnected as quickly as possible over the sustained period of the storms in January. Those efforts were hugely appreciated by people the length and breadth of the Highlands and Islands and I am pleased to hear that planning continues to make services as robust as possible during periods of challenging weather.

Mrs Grant continued “Anyone who may be vulnerable without electricity, whether that is due to a medical condition, age, disability or having babies under 12 months, should add their details to the register as it could save lives."