Cover requested to alleviate GP crisis

NHS Tayside went cap in hand to health boards across Scotland as it experienced a “critical” GP shortage in an Angus town.

Health board chief executive Lesley McLay told colleagues in Highland, Grampian and Fife regions she would be “really grateful” if their doctors could cover shifts at Brechin Health Centre.

It has been revealed that the north Angus burgh only had one GP to cover a population of 9,000 as it hit rock bottom in July.

The board said numbers are “improving” but politicians have called for the Scottish Government to defuse a “ticking time bomb” with a third of GPs set to retire within the next five years.

Scottish Conservative North East MSP Liam Kerr said it was “highly unusual” to cast the net so wide for staff, adding that it “illustrates the depth of this staffing crisis”.

NHS Tayside took over Brechin Health Centre in October and closed the GP ward at the town’s infirmary to beef up doctor cover.

NHS Tayside medical director Andrew Russell said the board had already investigated moving staff within Tayside and the practice had been “working tirelessly” to secure cover.

“Requesting support from neighbouring NHS boards is no different to other circumstances where we would invoke our well-established mutual aid arrangements,” he added.