LOGANAIR'S cuts to flights between Stornoway and Inverness could cost NHS Western Isles more than £1 million, the health board has warned.
The board told The National it could face up to £100,000 in additional patient travel and accommodation costs, while the loss of same-day travel for visiting consultants could push spending on agency locum doctors beyond £1m.
Loganair cut the morning service between Inverness and Lewis from July 19 – claiming that the service is "unsustainable".
NHS Western Isles chief executive Gordon Jamieson told MSPs the changes would have a "significant impact" on healthcare provision.
Giving evidence to Holyrood's Transport Committee in June, Jamieson explained that the health board expected to incur around £100,000 in additional costs because more patients would need overnight stays on the mainland after losing the ability to travel to and from appointments on the same day.
"The £100,000 figure is because patients would normally have gone over to the mainland and come back on the same day," he said.
"Because of our demographics, quite a lot of the patients are elderly and frail and so need an escort.
"The additional £100,000 is to do with the support that the Highlands and Islands patient travel scheme provides for overnight and extended stays."
Jamieson said the loss of same-day travel would also make it harder for consultants from NHS Highland to continue delivering specialist clinics in the Western Isles.
NHS Western Isles currently relies on NHS Highland services for around 28% of its activity.
"The £1m estimate is a reflection of when Highland consultants will not be able to work around the changes and come for two days instead of one day," he said.
"Some of them will be able to work around them, but some will not, so we will go to the open market for locums through agencies."
In a statement to The National, NHS Western Isles confirmed the £100,000 estimate represented only the direct cost of providing additional accommodation for patients, while overall costs could be significantly higher if locum doctors were required to maintain services.
A spokesperson said: "If service disruption were not mitigated and alternative medical staffing arrangements, such as locum cover, were required, costs could be substantially higher.
"While it is difficult to provide a definitive figure at this stage, previous assessments indicated that costs could potentially exceed £1m in a worst-case scenario.
"NHS Western Isles continues to work closely with partners to minimise any impact on patient services and waiting times."
The board said air travel was "not optional – it is essential" to delivering healthcare in the Western Isles.
Scottish Greens Highlands and Islands MSP Kristopher Leask told the National it was "deeply concerning" that NHS Western Isles was now facing additional costs because of the flight cuts.
He said the reductions should be reversed, arguing that NHS budgets should be spent on patient care rather than "covering the costs of reduced connectivity" and called for a long-term regional aviation strategy for the Highlands and Islands.
Leask recently partnered up with Shetland MSP Hannah Mary Goodlad to work towards a better integrated transport system in northern Scotland.
Highlands and Islands SNP MSP Maree Todd told The National she recognised the commercial pressures Loganair had cited in reducing services but stressed the routes were "lifeline connections" for island communities.
She said: “I appreciate that these factors have placed considerable strain on the viability of these routes but these services are lifeline connections for our island communities.
“I have spoken with NHS chief executives across the islands, who have all highlighted the vital role these air routes play in supporting healthcare delivery and ensuring patients and staff can travel when required. They are also essential for businesses and the wider island economy too."
Todd added that discussions had recently taken place between Loganair and Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL), with both sides encouraged to continue working towards a solution.
NHS Western Isles said it had not been consulted on the timetable changes but is continuing to engage with Loganair, Transport Scotland, the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd in an effort to minimise the impact on patient care.
Loganair has been approached for comment.
