The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)

Ardblair staff told to self-isolate.

- SEAN O’NEIL

Alarge number of staff members at a Per thsh ire medical centre are self- isolating , sparking concern for patients at the practice.

Ardblair Medical Centre in Blairgowri­e has warned patients to only contact the surgery if they require urgent care after receiving advice from Public Health.

The GP surgery, which has been hit by a number of issues since the Covid-19 pandemic, issued a statement saying that a large number of their clinical and administra­tion staff had been told to quarantine.

The practice added, however, that patients who had attended the surgery in the past week were not affected by the outbreak.

A spokesman for the health centre said: “A large number of our admin and clinical team at Ardblair are currently self-isolating on the advice of Public Health.

“Please only contact the surger y if you require urgent care.

“Thank you for your pa t ience and understand­ing.”

Depute First Minister John Swinney said he had been in contact with Ardblair regarding patient welfare during the outbreak.

The Perthshire North SNP MSP said: “My office has been in contact with Ardblair Medical Practice and have been assured that, while a number of staff are self-isolating, the surgery is still offering services to patients.

“In the first instance, patients should contact Ardblair by phone to discuss their medical situation.”

The Covid-19- affected practice was at the centre of a flu jab storm earlier this year af ter telling a pensioner couple they would need to wait eight weeks for a vaccine.

The row continued after the surgery failed to book patients flu jabs at new hubs set up by NHS Tayside despite guidance from the health board.

Ardblair hit the headlines again in October when they refused to come to the aid of one of their own elderly patients who burst open her face 12 feet from their front door – after she had just visited the centre.

NHS Ta y s i d e and

Ardblair Medical Centre, which is independen­tly owned, have been contacted for further comment regarding the outbreak.

A well- known glazing firm in Pe r t h has also closed its doors until December after reporting a positive case among its workforce yesterday.

A spokesman for McLeod’s said: “Due to a single positive result of Covid-19 within our team, as a precaution­ary measure, we will be temporaril­y closing the business until the 3rd of December.

“We’re extremely sorry for any inconvenie­nce this may cause, but the safety of our customers and of our team is of utmost importance to us.

“In the meantime, we will continue to answer all phone calls and emails, but the office and showroom will be closed and there will be no works completed during this period.”

Please only contact the surgery if you require urgent care

 ??  ?? OUTBREAK: But patients of Ardblair Medical Centre in Blairgowri­e have been reassured. Picture by Dougie Nicolson.
OUTBREAK: But patients of Ardblair Medical Centre in Blairgowri­e have been reassured. Picture by Dougie Nicolson.

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