Nwicker60
06-Apr-12, 09:41
John O’ Groat Journal review: April 6, 2012
A WICK man who suffers from a brain condition, is epileptic and registered blind, received appalling treatment when he was admitted to Caithness General Hospital. That is the claim made this week by Catherine Duncan who was “fuming” at what happened to her 33-year-old son, Mark. He was admitted to the accident and emergency department on two occasions within a three-day period last year with breathing problems. He was also suffering from panic attacks. When Mark made a return visit to the hospital on December 1, the reception he received was entirely different from the first time. Miss Duncan was told that Mark was in an agitated and disturbing other patients. He was "shoved" into the foyer area and just left sitting there, although a taxi home was subsequently arranged. Caithness Locality general manager, Pauline Craw, said the hospital is unable to comment on individual cases due to patient confidentiality, but she stressed NHS Highland takes complaints very seriously. She invited a complaint from Mark so the matter could be properly investigated.
THE family and partners of a young Caithness teacher, who died earlier this year, have described as “unbelievable” the response to a fundraising event being held in her memory this weekend. Dianne Allan was only 25 when she lost her battle with cancer in January. Her death devastated her mother Ann Flett and stepfather Robbie Flett, and her partner, Steven Morris, as well as friends and colleagues. In honour of Dianne, Steven’s team-mates at Thurso Swifts decided to raise money for Cancer Research UK, by undertaking a 12-hour relay at the town’s Sir George’s Park, tomorrow. It gets under way at 8am and finishes at 8pm.
THE public will be expected to fork out around £20million over the next 20 to 25 years to subsidise wind farms in Caithness. That is the figure revealed to the John O’ Groat Journal by the chairman of Caithness Windfarm Information forum, Stuart Young. Mr Young said the feed-in-tarrifs – payments made by energy supplier to anyone who generates renewable electricity –used to pay wind-farm owners, could “bankrupt the country”. The cost of the renewable subsidy is passed on to the average householder, through electricity bills (around £15 per person according to Mr Young) as well as through rising prices of other consumer products that have had electricity involved in their manufacture.
A ROYAL marine commando from Thurso has received a joint commanders’ commendation for his act of bravery while on a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan. Warrant Office Second Class, Garry Falconer, received the commendation for keeping the 600-strong contingent from 45 commando supplied and running. Out of the force that deployed there, only a handful received awards when the returned to British shores. In true Royal Marine spirit, Garry said it was a team effort that made the mission a success and let to the award.
AFTER selling out last year’s Northern Nashville Caithness Country Music Festival, the ninth event, happening this weekend, looks on target to repeat the feat. The capacity at Halkirk’s indoor riding school is 1000 and committee chairperson, Christine Gray revealed sales are already up in the 900s. She said: “I think when we open the doors, it will be a sellout”. Demand started early, as some tickets were snapped up last October. And there’s set to be a boost for local businesses which Christine praised for their support in sponsorship of the event.
VERY few youngsters can claim to have designed their own bedroom but Vicki Dunnet has done exactly that. The 10-year-old from Canisbay has been waking up to her new surroundings after winning a national design competition. The Canisbay Primary School pupil was one of three winners of the Design a Fab Den competition which was organised by the makers of popular cream lolly, Fab. Vicki had to come up with an idea of what her dream bedroom would look like, if she had the chance to choose anything she wanted.
THE Gillie Mor which was held in Thurso last week was “a great success” and could become an annual event. That is the aim of the organisers of the festival which was staged over three days to celebrate the life and work of Scottish folk icon, the late Hamish Henderson.
AND finally...the newest business to open at John O’ Groats is aiming to be more than just the flavour of the month – and scoop in local residents as well as tourists. Sandra Thain and her daughter Artemis (17) are hoping their new icecream shop will be sprinkled with success. Flavours opened its doors to the public last week.
A WICK man who suffers from a brain condition, is epileptic and registered blind, received appalling treatment when he was admitted to Caithness General Hospital. That is the claim made this week by Catherine Duncan who was “fuming” at what happened to her 33-year-old son, Mark. He was admitted to the accident and emergency department on two occasions within a three-day period last year with breathing problems. He was also suffering from panic attacks. When Mark made a return visit to the hospital on December 1, the reception he received was entirely different from the first time. Miss Duncan was told that Mark was in an agitated and disturbing other patients. He was "shoved" into the foyer area and just left sitting there, although a taxi home was subsequently arranged. Caithness Locality general manager, Pauline Craw, said the hospital is unable to comment on individual cases due to patient confidentiality, but she stressed NHS Highland takes complaints very seriously. She invited a complaint from Mark so the matter could be properly investigated.
THE family and partners of a young Caithness teacher, who died earlier this year, have described as “unbelievable” the response to a fundraising event being held in her memory this weekend. Dianne Allan was only 25 when she lost her battle with cancer in January. Her death devastated her mother Ann Flett and stepfather Robbie Flett, and her partner, Steven Morris, as well as friends and colleagues. In honour of Dianne, Steven’s team-mates at Thurso Swifts decided to raise money for Cancer Research UK, by undertaking a 12-hour relay at the town’s Sir George’s Park, tomorrow. It gets under way at 8am and finishes at 8pm.
THE public will be expected to fork out around £20million over the next 20 to 25 years to subsidise wind farms in Caithness. That is the figure revealed to the John O’ Groat Journal by the chairman of Caithness Windfarm Information forum, Stuart Young. Mr Young said the feed-in-tarrifs – payments made by energy supplier to anyone who generates renewable electricity –used to pay wind-farm owners, could “bankrupt the country”. The cost of the renewable subsidy is passed on to the average householder, through electricity bills (around £15 per person according to Mr Young) as well as through rising prices of other consumer products that have had electricity involved in their manufacture.
A ROYAL marine commando from Thurso has received a joint commanders’ commendation for his act of bravery while on a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan. Warrant Office Second Class, Garry Falconer, received the commendation for keeping the 600-strong contingent from 45 commando supplied and running. Out of the force that deployed there, only a handful received awards when the returned to British shores. In true Royal Marine spirit, Garry said it was a team effort that made the mission a success and let to the award.
AFTER selling out last year’s Northern Nashville Caithness Country Music Festival, the ninth event, happening this weekend, looks on target to repeat the feat. The capacity at Halkirk’s indoor riding school is 1000 and committee chairperson, Christine Gray revealed sales are already up in the 900s. She said: “I think when we open the doors, it will be a sellout”. Demand started early, as some tickets were snapped up last October. And there’s set to be a boost for local businesses which Christine praised for their support in sponsorship of the event.
VERY few youngsters can claim to have designed their own bedroom but Vicki Dunnet has done exactly that. The 10-year-old from Canisbay has been waking up to her new surroundings after winning a national design competition. The Canisbay Primary School pupil was one of three winners of the Design a Fab Den competition which was organised by the makers of popular cream lolly, Fab. Vicki had to come up with an idea of what her dream bedroom would look like, if she had the chance to choose anything she wanted.
THE Gillie Mor which was held in Thurso last week was “a great success” and could become an annual event. That is the aim of the organisers of the festival which was staged over three days to celebrate the life and work of Scottish folk icon, the late Hamish Henderson.
AND finally...the newest business to open at John O’ Groats is aiming to be more than just the flavour of the month – and scoop in local residents as well as tourists. Sandra Thain and her daughter Artemis (17) are hoping their new icecream shop will be sprinkled with success. Flavours opened its doors to the public last week.