Campaign group formed to fight for health centre

A CAMPAIGN group has been set up to fight for more investment in a crisis-hit Dundee health centre.

NHS Tayside was forced to take over the management of Lochee Health Centre in March due to staff shortages.

Although a new GP is set to start in the Marshall Place centre soon, a lack of personnel has resulted in occasions when only one GP has been available to provide cover.

There have also been concerns about a shortage of administration staff.

Now, a campaign group called Investing in Lochee Health Centre — No NHS Cuts has been formed following a public meeting on Wednesday and the group is calling for three full-time GPs to be based in the centre.

Leah Ganley, a Lochee resident who organised the meeting, said: “It’s a scandal that one of the poorest areas in Dundee, with a life expectancy 10 years less than Broughty Ferry, is supposed to cope with a single GP.

“We demand a minimum of three GPs and a full complement of admin and support staff permanently situated at Lochee to provide the services local people need.”

The campaign group is also demanding NHS Tayside rules out closing the health centre. It is also planning to protest outside NHS Tayside’s next board meeting and to start campaigning against NHS cuts in general.

NHS Tayside has recruited a part-time and a full-time GP for the practice and said the centre is continuing to deliver health care to its patients.

The formation of the Lochee group coincides with the formation of a new, anti-austerity party in Dundee.

Dundee Against Cuts is demanding Dundee City Council receives the £75 million cut from its budget since 2011.

Lochee Health Centre