Health boards cancel non-urgent care ahead of Storm Eowyn red alert

Health boards across the country have cancelled non-urgent care as the country faces a red weather warning and hurricane-force winds.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, and NHS Fife have cancelled outpatient procedures.

A rare Met Office red alert has been issued as Storm Eowyn brings the most intense weather in recent history with wind speeds of 100mph.

The first-ever use in Scotland of the UK-wide emergency alert system saw phones belonging to those in the affected areas emit a loud siren and display urgent guidance from the government.

It comes as all trains across the country will be suspended, hundreds of schools will close and police have warned people not to travel in the areas affected.

Confirming the decision, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “Following the red weather warning, non-urgent outpatient appointments and routine hospital admissions scheduled for Friday January 24 are being cancelled.

“Urgent and emergency care and essential maternity and community services will continue to be provided.

“If you are affected, we will reschedule your appointment as soon as possible. All vaccination clinics due to take place on Friday January 24 have been cancelled and appointments will be rescheduled.”

NHS Ayrshire and Arran confirmed that GP practices will be only providing urgent care, while all vaccination clinics would be closed.

A spokesperson added: “Non-urgent outpatient appointments and elective hospital admissions scheduled for Friday 24th January are being cancelled.

“Urgent and emergency care and essential maternity and community services will continue to be provided.”

NHS Fife said: “Severe weather warnings have been issued across Fife, including parts of the region where a red warning is in place for dangerous winds.

“To help ensure the safety of our patients and staff, we have made the decision to postpone all routine clinic appointments, diagnostics and planned theatre activity.”

A spokesperson for NHS Lothian added: “Due to the rare Red Alert in place tomorrow (January 24. 2025), NHS Lothian has taken the difficult decision to cancel all routine, non-urgent planned procedures and the majority of hospital outpatient appointments to help protect our patients and staff.

“Emergency and urgent planned procedures and some urgent outpatient appointments will still go ahead and urgent cancer treatment and surgery will be prioritised, as well as renal dialysis and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT).”

Dumfries and Galloway said the majority of outpatient appointments and planned surgeries at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary in Dumfries are still set to go ahead.

Adding: “All outpatient and day surgeries at Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer have been cancelled for Friday, January 24, reflecting that the storm is expected to hit the Wigtownshire area of the region most severely.”