Abbey decision is latest crisis

NHS data published at the end of December revealed a total of more than 27,000 patients across Arbroath’s three medical centres.

The combined rolls of the east and west practices of Springfield Medical Centre in Ponderlaw total almost 12,000.

Arbroath Medical Centre at Hill Place has a patient roll of just over 9,000.

The Abbey practice situation is the latest impact on local provision of a national GP shortage which has already had a marked effect on communities across Tayside.

Forfar was hit by a six-month shutdown of patient lists at the town’s three surgeries at the end of 2018 and into the following year.

During the ban on new registrations at Academy Medical Centre, Lour Road Group Practice and Ravenswood Surgery, residents were allocated a practice on a rotational basis via a practitioner service in Aberdeen.

Angus Health and Social Care Partnership highlighted high rates of movement of patients between practices as an issue at the time.

More than three years ago, NHS Tayside stepped in to take control of Brechin Health Centre in a move aimed at averting a GP crisis in the town.

The centre partnership was dissolved after two doctors left and replacements could not be found.

The situation remained difficult, leading to reduced GP cover at the centre for spells during the summer of the following year.

A community-led bid is now being pursued to create a health and wellbeing hub at the town’s former infirmary.

Brechin Healthcare Group (BHG) was formed in response to escalating concerns over local health provision and has recently secured “agreement in principle” to take forward its ambitious proposal for the building, deemed surplus to requirements two years ago.

Tayside-wide, the GP shortage has also previously affected out-of-hours provision, with health bosses forced to put contingency plans in place in February 2019 to maintain the service.