Medical practitioners outline reasons for move to new surgery

CARSE OF GOWRIE: Doctors remain determined to ensure ‘continuity of care’

Doctors in the Carse of Gowrie have outlined reasons behind a planned move to a new surgery.

With the current GP surgery in Errol being due to be vacated on April 25 and a nearby surgery at St Madoes deemed no longer fit for purpose, the partners felt it was time to look at future medical service provision for the area.

Doctors Ruth Cotton, Sahar Hussein and Amy Stewart, from the Carse Medical Practice, have provided the background behind the proposal, which, if passed by Perth and Kinross Council, would lead to the construction of a new temporary surgery on land near Errol airfield.

In a statement by the practice, lodged with the council along with the planning application, the doctors claim neither of the sites at Errol or St Madoes allow “ongoing” or “future” development of patient services.

Their statement says: “The modular build in St Madoes was constructed as a temporary structure over 10 years ago and has served the practice and patients well for many years.

“It is barely weather proof, the information technology – despite recent upgrades – remains slow and is not comparable with that in Errol.

“There is inequity of service provision across both sites.

“The service in St Madoes has been sacrificed at times of staff illness to maintain that in Errol, where the majority of patient services are delivered and practice audit has shown that patients use both services as a continuum of each other.”

The doctors say they are “determined” to find a solution to allow them maintain their service without interruption or “unnecessary detriment”.

“The practice sees this as an opportunity, which in the long-term will allow the development of appropriate services which can be shaped through public consultation and ultimately benefit patients and the local community,” their statement adds.

The Carse Medical Practice has received the backing of NHS Tayside and the Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership to commission the provision of a temporary GP surgery in Errol, which they hope will “secure the continuity” of services.

The modular build in St Madoes was constructed asa temporary structure over 10 years ago...

CARSE MEDICAL PRACTICE

Picture: Gareth Jennings. The medical practice in Errol, which is to be vacated in April.