Nichola Sturgeon

[Michael Rolls]

Tells you about it here.

https://news.stv.tv/highlands-islands/caithness-mothers-forced-to-travel-over-100-miles-to-inverness-to-give-birth

that is awful - and occasionally an imminent birth becomes a genuine emergency - a 100 mile journey under such circumstances is a tragedy waiting to happen. How far are these ladies from an ambulance?

[Raven]

that is awful - and occasionally an imminent birth becomes a genuine emergency - a 100 mile journey under such circumstances is a tragedy waiting to happen. How far are these ladies from an ambulance?

Not far, there's an ambulance depot in both Thurso and Wick but I don't know how many ambulances there actually are. They have a huge area to cover so it could be a bit of a wait.. I do know a lot of Lassies in labour are taken to Inverness in the family car and don't all make it. Good job there's a lot of stopping places on the A9.

[Michael Rolls]

well, at least that's something. A chap I used to know lived in Farnham and his wife went into serious labour at home. She was under the care of the Frimley Park unit 13 miles away. Rather than wait for an ambulance, Peter loaded her into the car and set off at high speed up the A31 only to be stopped by the police. One look at the problem, and Peter, with blues and twos screaming, was escorted to the hospital - mother and child did well, But that was 13 miles1

[GrannyMac]

One of the reasons I'm grateful to live in a city, two big teaching hospitals, a children's, a maternity hospital, and a specialist cancer hospital.  OH has twice had the benefit of specialist heart surgeons, and had an MRI at the cancer hospital last week. The opthalmics surgeon got my sight back.  10-15 minutes by car, they're on bus routes too.  

[Alex]

Just reading the police have seized a £110,000 motorhome from Mr Sturgeon's Mum's house.  At 92 I think she's a bit too old to be driving one of those big beasts. 

[Michael Rolls]

perhaps they just keep it their. A friend keeps his motorhome here as he has nowhere to keep it at home. By no means unusual.

[Raven]

Just reading the police have seized a £110,000 motorhome from Mr Sturgeon's Mum's house.  At 92 I think she's a bit too old to be driving one of those big beasts. 

They scare the life out of me, some of the huge American like ones we get visiting up north, they are far too big for our wee roads. I quake when I see one coming towards me, I have always been lucky so far and managed to pull up onto the verge to let it past( thank god for 4x4s) Or I have to reverse down the road till I can get into a passing space.

[Michael Rolls]

ours was 23 feet long, 8'6" wide, and 10'6" high - and was dwarfed by some of the Yankee cruisers! Managed even in our local lanes - but clearly, it was the fastest vehicle on the road - nobody ever overtook us!     

[Diasi]

Just reading the police have seized a £110,000 motorhome from Mr Sturgeon's Mum's house.  At 92 I think she's a bit too old to be driving one of those big beasts. 

That means the police have only got to find the other £490,000.

[GrannyMac]

 Curioser and curioser.

[Raven]

ours was 23 feet long, 8'6" wide, and 10'6" high - and was dwarfed by some of the Yankee cruisers! Managed even in our local lanes - but clearly, it was the fastest vehicle on the road - nobody ever overtook us!     

I rest my case.

[Diasi]

Presumably the road has length limit signs to warn drivers.

[Raven]

They pay no attention at all to notices. It's hell up here since that NC500 started up.

[Michael Rolls]

I rest my case.

That's a biggie! We would never have tried a road like that

[Raven]

Part of the NC500. Applecross. It's part of the main road, totally unsuitable for big vehicles.......But still they come.