Highland hospital at 'code black' level on 104 days

Inverness' Raigmore Hospital declared "code black" warnings about major impacts on its services on more than 100 days over a period of a year, according to new figures.

Code black is the highest level in a system used by health boards when one or more service is at capacity.

Some operations and appointments can be postponed to help relieve pressures on staff.

The warning was declared at some point on 104 days between 1 April 2024 and 31 March, according to details requested under Freedom of Information (FOI).

NHS Highland told BBC Scotland News that Raigmore, the largest hospital in the Highlands, could review its status up to eight times a day.

The health board, like others, uses the operational pressures escalation levels (Opel) "traffic light" system to raise awareness of any impacts on hospital services.

A spokesperson said: "Depending on the level, a range of actions for staff will be initiated.

"Black will trigger specific actions beyond those taken for red and amber levels.

"The system has proven valuable to staff in multiple departments as they manage the variation in numbers of patients requiring urgent care hour by hour."

The figures were recorded in a reporting system set up in April last year.

In July 2021, Raigmore was placed on code black status after reaching capacity amid increasing Covid cases.

NHS Highland said at the time staffing and services were under pressure due to large numbers of staff having to self-isolate.

All non-urgent elective surgery was postponed.

Outpatient activity - with the exception of cancer, urgent and some other activities - was also postponed.