The Prince of Wales has visited a center that provides vital oxygen therapy for more than 15 years since opening the original facility.
Charles, known as the Duke of Rothesay when in Scotlandvisited The Healing Hub Oxygen Therapy Center in Wick on Friday as part of a visit to the city.
When it first opened it was called The Old Man’s Rest and then The MS Therapy Center.
He opened the original facility in 2005 and continues to offer oxygen therapy treatments for a range of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue and certain cancers.
The treatment at the center has also recently been used to support people suffering from the effects of long-term Covid.
When Charles opened the original facility in 2005 it still belonged to the Highland Council and the therapy center were the tenants.
However, in 2017, a successful bid enabled the Therapy Center to apply for grants to upgrade and renovate the building and to take ownership of the building.
Work in the center ended in 2019, just before the start of the first lockdown.
Charles was given a tour of the center and also met the volunteers and patients who have used the available oxygen therapy treatments.
To date, the center has about 50 users, some of whom use the center weekly and others monthly.
The center is fully staffed by volunteers with funds raised independently and with support from the local community.
The Prince of Wales also visited the Caithness Food Bank, located in Wick’s Carnegie Library, where he toured a facility and learned about the vital work being done there to support people across the county.
The Caithness Food Bank was established in 2014 as an initiative of members of several Caithness churches and other members of the local community in Thurso and Wick.
It has two centres, one in Thurso and one in Wick, and has continued to expand over the years and has developed a large network of local referral offices.
At the center, Charles met food bank volunteers and charitable organizations to hear about the work they are doing to support their local community.