The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
GP surgery closure denied as fears mount for Carse health care
st madoes: Consultation being prepared for locals
Concerns are mounting over the future provision of health services in the Carse of Gowrie.
Residents and councillors are looking for answers after Perth and Kinross health and social care partnership deemed a GP surgery in St Madoes as being no longer fit for use.
In addition, the surgery at nearby Errol is up for sale.
The partnership is preparing a consultation paper for residents, asking their views on the relocation of GP services in St Madoes. The health body said plans are “progressing” on a new purposebuilt surgery in Errol.
Residents have been left confused however after an early draft of the questionnaire, not officially issued by NHS Tayside, was circulated on social media and appeared on a surgery notice board.
It states: “Following the St Madoes surgery closure, GP services will continue to be provided at Errol,” despite the partnership insisting no decision has been made to close the surgery.
Labour Councillor Alasdair Bailey is calling for a public consultation, claiming many local residents are under the impression that the GP surgery at St Madoes will definitely close.
He said: “If St Madoes surgery is to close, I’m calling on NHS Tayside to commit to a timescale for the construction of a dedicated facility to replace it and the Errol surgery. We can’t allow St Madoes to simply slip away, resulting in more appointments needing to be held at the already cramped Errol surgery.
“The NHS announcement refers to a new-build surgery but gives no timelines. I am calling on the community to fight the closure of St Madoes surgery until a clear plan is set out for exactly how and when its services will be replaced.”
Tory Councillor Angus Forbes added: “I have asked the chief officer of the Perth and Kinross health and social care partnership to facilitate a public meeting as soon as possible to answer the many questions residents and patients have and to provide reassurance over the future of health care in the Carse of Gowrie.
“There is already a cloud hanging over the future of the doctors’ surgery in Errol, Perth GP practices are writing to patients in the Carse of Gowrie asking them to move to another doctor, and now this possible closure.”
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross partnership said: “No decision has been made to close St Madoes GP practice.
“The GP practice premises in St Madoes have been deemed to be not fit for purpose and we are currently working with the GPs to ensure the continuity of service provision for their patients. We are also consulting with the local community to consider the most appropriate options for GP services to be delivered in the short-term and in the future.”
We are currently working with the GPs to ensure the continuity of service provision for their patients. PERTH AND KINROSS HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE PARTNERSHIP SPOKESPERSON