Caithness Courier headlines for April 5, 2017

A LONG-TIME NHS campaigner in the far north, believes the remaining inpatient beds at Dunbar Hospital will be targeted as part of a new bid by NHS Highland to reconfigure services in the west of Caithness. Describing the future of the Thurso hospital as "dodgy", patient representative, Liz Smith, fears it is in line for a major downgrading.

HEALTH chiefs have been urged to used the £400,000 funding boost for the ambulance service in Caithness to help frontline staff who are "working at breaking point". The plea was made by the GMB Scotland union after the extra money was made available by the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS Highland.

IT is one of the biggest community festivals in the Highlands and it want you to help create a new symbol to represent it. Wick Gala Committee is holding a competition challenging the public to design a logo for use at this summer's event.

AN actor spoke about his own experiences of child neglect to people from across the Highlands at a special event aiming to highlight the issue across the north. Paul Brannigan, best known for his roles as Gareth O' Connor in the BBC Scotland soap, River City and as Robbie in the film The Angels Share, was the guest speaker at a Highland Child Protection committee event on child neglect.

RENDERING on part of an historic tower on the outskirts of Wick has been removed as part of a major scheme to restore the structure to its former glory. The initiative, which is estimated to cost between £30000 and £40,000, is expected to be completed by the end of the summer with a rededication ceremony planned for August.