The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
NHS chiefs left patients in dark, say politicians
BRIDGE OF EARN: Residents to be allocated new surgeries
NHS Tayside has finally posted letters to the 3,500 patients set to be without a surgery when Bridge of Earn Medical Practice closes at the end of this week.
The health board has been lambasted by politicians for leaving anxious patients in the dark about the GPs’ resignations and decision to close the premises.
Furthermore, NHS Tayside has been slammed for pointing the finger at the resigning doctors for the surgery’s closure.
Residents will now find out in the next two days which practice they are to attend for at least the coming three months.
Six surgeries in Perth and two in Kinross have been identified by healthcare bosses as suitable options, and patients will be asked in formal correspondence to stay with that service for at least 12 weeks, until “things settle down”.
Meanwhile, Perth doctors have sent an open letter to NHS Tayside’s management warning them against sending an influx of patients into the city.
GPs have voiced their concerns that the already stretched services will be put under even more pressure by the decision.
NHS Tayside has been slammed for trying to blame doctors for the closure of a Perthshire GP practice.
In correspondence seen by The Courier, doctors at Bridge of Earn Surgery claim the health board gave them only eight days’ notice that the practice was to close.
A doctor was allegedly told off by a senior member of the Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership for wasting their time after they had gone to a local MSP with concerns.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith called the current situation “grossly unfair” for doctors, staff and patients.
Some staff at the medical centre have worked in their profession for almost four decades, and doctors remaining at the centre will be responsible for paying the appropriate notice period.
The health board has been accused of misleading doctors and staff at Bridge of Earn about £1 million it said had been set-aside for a new practice building, money which has not materialised.
Further claims from doctors include the Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership being responsible for advertising for salaried roles in the practice to cover the gaps. These adverts are alleged to have never been placed.
Ms Smith said: “The contents of the email presented to The Courier raises only more questions than answers.”
She added: “The implication is that NHS Tayside believes the current situation in Bridge of Earn is the fault of the two GPs which, from the information we have been given, is grossly unfair.”
A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said: “The practice terminated its contract with NHS Tayside with an end date of August 30 2019.”
They added: “We were working very hard to explore all alternative options for maintaining safe and sustainable GP services in the Earn area.
“Despite everyone’s best efforts, all the potential solutions needed secure, permanent GP cover which is critical in providing safe and sustainable services and, unfortunately, it has not been possible to identify the required medical workforce.”
The health board said a “hub” plan was proposed for a new GP centre and potential police and third-sector bodies to use in 2011. However, over the course of design development, the number of participants reduced to only NHS Tayside and the GP practice. This reduced the viability of the service.
“In 2016, having been carried forward for a number of years, the project was withdrawn as being unviable.”
Any new premises “business case” for services would be considered in future.