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Highland Council has the worst public services in Scotland, analysis reveals





A new Sunday Times analysis has revealed Highland Council has the worst public services in Scotland.

The investigation published today exposes huge variations in performance by local authorities, health boards and police across the country.

As the UK’s biggest local authority by square miles, the analysis showed Highland ranking at the bottom for health and education out of 29 mainland areas.

In January, Highland Council said it is facing an estimated budget gap of around £60m in 2024-25 and is expected to need more than £113m across the next three years to balance the books with current expenditure.

A round-up of the report shows:

NHS Highland sign. Picture: James Mackenzie.
NHS Highland sign. Picture: James Mackenzie.

Health

NHS Highland ranked last place for its Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) waiting list and in the bottom five for cancer treatment waiting times.

Less than 40 per cent of young people waiting to be treated by Camhs in the expected 18-week wait. The majority of other health boards across Scotland see between 95 and 99 per cent in the same time frame.

Cancer patients covered by NHS Highland were also far less likely to start treatment within 62 days from diagnosis, as per the latest data from January to March 2024.

Education

Highland Council has the worst literacy rates in Scotland.
Highland Council has the worst literacy rates in Scotland.

Only 65 per cent of P1, P4 and P7 pupils reach the expected standard of literacy - the worst in Scotland’s local authorities.

In comparison, 88 per cent of pupils in East Renfrewshire do.

Waste and recycling

Only 37 per cent of waste is recycled.
Only 37 per cent of waste is recycled.

Highland Council is one of the worse in Scotland for managing its rubbish. Only 37 per cent is recycled with more than half of household waste being sent to landfill.

In East Renfrewshire, only 2.4 per cent buried and 58 per cent recycled, coming out the best.

Highland Council has been contacted for comment.



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