Caithness health and social care redesign

Caithness Local Care Model

Delivery joined-up care for Caithness:

person-centred
flexible and adaptable
effective and efficient

View this diagram as a pdf document: Caithness Local Care Model (pdf)

complex diagram showing the Caithness Local Care Model for place-based care

Join the Caithness Challenge

Be part of a team testing out new ways of working to help people to live well locally, and breathe new life into local spaces.

The Caithness Challenge will build on what we heard from communities about how local spaces can be used to help people to live well locally.

There will be an initial focus on Castletown Drill Hall and UHI Thurso Campus. The challenge will involve bringing young people, community members and partner organisations back together, to help test out different ideas to use these spaces.

You are invited to in-person launch events to kickstart the Challenge:

Wed 6 September 2023 : 5.30pm to 8pm at UHI North Highland, Thurso
Thu 7 September 2023 : 5.30pm to 8pm at Castletown Drill Hall

Please register here to join us at a session.

More information:

Caithness Challenge Launch Event Invitation (pdf, August 2023)
About The Caithness Place Based Demonstrator (pdf, August 2023)

Here For Caithness pop-up hubs

Community-led support:

get advice
find support
stay connected

Come along to find out what community services are available in your area and have a cup of tea or coffee, a cake and a chat!

2023 Wednesday 22 March, 10am to 2pm: Keiss, Keiss Hall
2023 Thursday 1 June, 10am to 2pm: Thurso, British Legion
2023 Wednesday 23 August, 10am to 2pm: Castletown, Drill Hall
2023 Wednesday 25 October, 10am to 2pm: Wick, Caithness House

See more details: Community-led Support - Here For Caithness - Pop Up Hubs (pdf).

Single point of access

The single point of access contact phone number for Caithness changed in August 2023 to:

phone 0345 850 9413

One number supporting the Caithness community:

help call
frozen meal service
occupational therapy equipment
Care at Home
information about community groups and organisations
community nursing
frailty practitioner
social work
specialist nursing
physiotherapy

New Community Rehabilitation service launches in Caithness

20/02/2024

A new NHS Highland community facility designed to enable people to rehabilitate locally and avoid a hospital stay was officially opened in Wick today by Councillor Raymond Bremner, Leader of Highland Council.

Update on Caithness redesign

09/02/2024

The Scottish Government announced last month that funding for all NHS construction projects was to be paused for at least two years.

New phone service will help people make the first call the right call for community health and social care assistance in Caithness

01/08/2023

People in Caithness will be able to access all community-based health and social care services using a single dedicated phone number.

NHS Highland confirms design team for Wick and Thurso Community Hubs

21/06/2023

The reshaping of health and social care services across Caithness by NHS Highland has taken another major step forward with the appointment of a design team.

NHS Highland appoints Balfour Beatty to lead key redesign projects

11/04/2023

NHS Highland is pleased to confirm that Balfour Beatty Plc has been appointed as the Principal Supply Chain Partner for the Lochaber and Caithness General Hospital redesign projects.

Workshop helps shape future of health and social care in Caithness

20/03/2023

Senior NHS Highland officials and clinical experts have met in Wick to discuss the development of the major redesign of health and social care services across Caithness which will include two new Community hubs and Care Villages in Wick and Thurso.

Pop-up hubs will highlight community-led services available in Caithness

14/03/2023

The first in a fresh series of drop-in events aimed at helping put people around Caithness in touch with local community-led support and advice services will be held in Keiss next week.

Caithness residents have opportunity to help shape community spaces

17/02/2023

Caithness residents have the chance to shape the future use of four local spaces.

Major step forward for Caithness General Hospital refurbishment plans

21/02/2023

Plans to refurbish and reconfigure Caithness General Hospital, in Wick, are expected to take a major step forward next month, with the appointment of a Principal Supply Chain Partner (PSCP) to carry out the design and construction work.

Preferred site confirmed for new Wick care hub as part of Caithness health and social care services redesign

20/02/2023

A site in the Noss area of Wick has been confirmed by NHS Highland as the preferred location for a new Community Hub and Care Village.

First Here For Caithness event proves to be a success

09/06/2022

The first Here For Caithness event held in Wick last month has proved to be a success, with a number of local services in attendance highlighting how they can support the local community.

Important: Further information

For queries about historic documents relating to service redesign that are not published here, please contact the District Manager for the relevant area.

Caithness health and social care redesign

Latest news on service change in Caithness, the Caithness Local Care Model, the business case, and design and build i...
Business case

NHS Highland was given the go-ahead to progress to the next stage in its plans to redesign services in Caithness by t...
Design and build

Caithness General Hospital refurbishment, and new Wick and Thurso Community Hubs.

NHS Highland funding and budgets

The Scottish Government budget announcement in December 2023 presents challenges across the public sector.
Badenoch and Strathspey health and social care redesign

Service change in Badenoch and Strathspey.
Lochaber health and social care redesign

Lochaber service change, including the project for replacing Belford Hospital.
Maternity and neonatal service redesign

NHS Highland and NHS Grampian have joined forces to improve the provision of maternity care and better serve the need...
Skye, Lochalsh and Wester Ross health and social care redesign

Skye, Lochalsh and Wester Ross service change.
Sutherland health and social care redesign

Service change in Sutherland.
Previous projects

Past service redesign projects.