Health centre almost ‘out of the woods’ after staffing crisis

Unit now has the most highly trainem staff in the area, it is claimem

A trouble-hit Angus medical centre is almost “out of the woods” after a staffing crisis, a meeting on the county’s healthcare was told.

NHS Tayside took over Brechin Health Centre in October 2016 and closed the GP ward at the town’s infirmary to bolster cover.

Soon after, the board pulled the plug on open sessions due to a further decline in numbers and a lack of locum cover.

A meeting of the Angus health and social care partnership’s joint board heard the partnership has since been asked “challenging questions” by members of the public at recent open events.

However the Forfar meeting heard the health board is optimistic that Brechin now has the most highly-trained staff in its area.

It is one of three “2C practices” in Tayside, along with Lochee and Whitfield in Dundee.

These are run directly by the health board rather than by general practitioner partners.

In an update on primary care services,

HEaD OF COMMUNITY HEaLTH aND CaRE sERVICEs GaIL sMITH

the partnership’s head of community health and care services, Gail Smith, said there is now a “full complement” of doctors in the town.

“We’ve appointed one to our leadership post and we’re delighted,” she said.

“A GP returned from abroad and is seeking a leadership post there.

“We’ve recruited an extra advanced nurse practitioner, so we’ve now got three staff working in Brechin, rather than two.

“We are continuing with the mental health model and musculoskeletal (physio clinic) model which are going exceptionally well.

“We’ve a new practice manager enjoying her new post.

“Brechin actually has an exceptionally skilled workforce at the moment.

“In addition we held two open events in the city hall in Brechin and the YMCA in Montrose.

“Our councillors David (May) and Jim (Houston) attended along with other councillors and members of the public.

“We had some challenging questions from members of the public and I think we dealt with these challenges exceptionally well.”

Brechin and Edzell councillor Mr Houston told the meeting he had found out more about the range of health services available at the city hall event.

He said: “We may not be out of the woods completely but we can see the edge.”

We had some challenging questions from members of the public and I think wedealt with these challenges exceptionally well.