Coronavirus: Field hospital set up in village hall
21 March 2020
Castlebay village hall in Barra has been taken over as a medical base to treat any people with coronavirus.
The ten-
Coastguard volunteers and fire personnel helped local paramedics set up ten camp beds and other equipment in Castlebay Community Centre
Concern is being voiced about the lack of resources on Barra where there is no intensive care facility.
No ventilators are based on the island which has a population of about 1,200 people.
MP Angus Macneil urged tourists to stay away during the crisis to ease the strain on the medical and emergency services.
He said: “This is not far from 3rd World basic. No ventilators, no much oxygen either, no testing. Islands such as this could be badly hit. Message is don't come on holiday.”
The health board said patients severely ill with the virus would be transferred by road or air ambulance for intensive treatment.
Gordon Jamieson, chief executive of NHS Western Isles, said: “Arrangements are in place so patients from Barra that require any kind of life support will be transferred first up to Uist and Barra Hospital (in Benbecula) and they will be supported there” before being transported to intensive care in line with the current practice.
The Benbecula hospital already has the “ability to ventilate.”
“They are fortunate in their medical complement they can do that.
“Patients can be stabilised and supported there and then transferred off.
If they are not able to “
Photo: Angus Macneil