Raigmore Hospital in Inverness is currently at “code black” and all non-urgent elective surgery has been cancelled in the region.
Dr Boyd Peters, Medical Director for NHS Highland, highlighted a combination of rising covid infections, more medical and surgical activity and staff having to self-isolate as problems.
Concerns are growing about the impact of the recent surge in covid cases on the NHS, allied to a resumption of demand for normal services.
Over the last 24 hours 2,363 people in Scotland have returned positive tests, while there have been six deaths recorded in that same time.