PRI overhaul ‘will hit rural residents’

GP argues forecasted population surge renders plan illogical

A top doctor has warned Perth Royal Infirmary faces being downgraded, despite a forecast population surge.

Dr Alistair McCracken, who has been a GP in Kinross since the 1980s, believes the proposed axing of emergency surgeries will hit people living in rural communities.

The move is part of a planned overhaul of surgical services across Tayside.

NHS Tayside, which has launched a consultation on the plan, proposes moving all unscheduled operations to Ninewells, with more planned operations held at PRI.

But Dr McCracken argues the move will lead to a decline at the hospital and a knock-on effect on other services.

Sounding a warning against the plan, he said: “Centralisation of services in Ninewells will not only affect patients but also family members and carers who will have to find their own way to Dundee.”

The consultation comes as health bosses put a temporary halt on all emergency surgery at PRI, claiming a staff shortage.

A senior GP has warned a shake-up at Tayside hospitals could lead to a severe downgrading of Perth Royal Infirmary.

Health chiefs have launched a consultation on the future of local surgeries, proposing to end all emergency operations at PRI.

Under the plan, all unscheduled operations would be moved to Ninewells Hospital.

NHS Tayside said this would mean a greater number of elective surgery patients can be treated in Perth and at Stracathro Hospital in Angus.

The health board is urging residents to have their say at a public meeting in Perth tomorrow.

The consultation comes amid a temporary halt on all emergency surgery at PRI. The operations are being transferred in the interim to Ninewells because of a staff shortage, NHS Tayside said.

Dr Alistair McCracken, a GP in the Kinross area since 1985, has raised concerns about “further deterioration in the status of Perth Royal Infirmary”.

He said: “Over the last 20 years, the people of Perth and Kinross have witnessed the loss of inpatient services in paediatrics, gynaecology, plastic surgery, ENT (ear, nose and throat) and the reduction in services provided in obstetrics and accident and emergency.

“This at a time when the population of Perth and Kinross continues to expand at a rate far greater than Dundee or Angus.”

Dr McCracken said the proposed withdrawal of emergency surgery from PRI will most adversely affect rural areas such as Crieff, Auchterarder, Kinross and Highland Perthshire.

“The consultation process is flawed in that already emergency surgery has stopped at PRI without any consultation with the public or general practice,” he said.

Dr McCracken added that he found out about the halt on surgeries at PRI when he referred a patient for an emergency procedure.

NHS Tayside will hold a consultation meeting at Perth and Kinross Council’s High Street HQ tomorrow from 5pm to 7pm.

A spokeswoman said the changes were needed in the face of significant challenges, including an ageing population and a rise in the number of people with long-term and multiple conditions, as well as increasing costs and growing demand for services.

“Surgeons, doctors, nurses and other members of the clinical team are leading this proposed change and they have explored many options of how surgery can be transformed in Tayside with other clinicians, managers, voluntary sector representatives, staff and NHS Tayside public partners,” she said.

Arlene Wood, NHS Tayside general manager for surgery, added: “We have already received valuable feedback from people across Tayside.

“We hope that people will continue to share their views on the proposed future model for surgical services in Tayside by coming along to the public engagement events.”

Meanwhile, local Tory politicians are holding public talks with health board chairman John Connell at Perth’s Royal George Hotel on October 3 from 7pm.

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The consultation process is flawed in that already emergency surgery has stopped at PRI without any consultation with the public or general practice.

DR ALISTAIR MCCRACKEN

Picture: Kim Cesfford. A GP has warned that a shake-up at Tayside hospitals could lead to a severe downgrading of Perth Royal Infirmary, and said the health chiefs’ consultation process is flawed.