Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
NHS defends record amid GPs shortage
Chief executive Lesley McLay said the intervention from the board over the Lochee surgery in March had helped restore a good service in the area.
The comments came at NHS Tayside’s annual review for 2015-16, amid a severe shortage of GPs in Dundee. Seven practices currently can’t take on any new patients.
Ms McLay said the takeover of the struggling Lochee practice earlier this year should not be viewed negatively.
She said: “NHS Tayside was asked to take over the running of the Lochee practice in March this year when there were no GPs in the practice.
“We now have three GPs at the practice and we have another two coming to bring it back to its full capacity.
“We are managing three out of 66 practices in Tayside, which is around 5% and a lot less than other health boards around the country. “We have also got to look at the practice and the opportunity that it presented to us.
“We have restored it to the same level of GPs that should be there.
“Lochee is an area of high deprivation and I think that the approach that we are currently taking meets the needs of people in that area.”
Ms McLay said the health board had also been successful in convincing retiring doctors to remain in employment and also to stay on in advisory positions to new GPs in the area.
She also said that Lochee’s “success” was a benchmark for the health board if it is called to take over GP practices.
She added: “We have new strategies in place that we have successfully developed in Lochee.”
Professor John Connell, chairman of NHS Tayside, said the situation surrounding GPs was “secure”.
He said: “The fact the health board has taken over the running of Lochee Health Centre has allowed us to provide better services and care.
“I think that it is a better fit for GP services around Lochee.”
The practices operating on restricted lists in the city are Lochee Health Centre, Hillbank Health Centre, Stobswell Medical Centre, Ancrum Medical Centre, Broughty Ferry Health Centre, Downfield Surgery and the Mill Practice in Fintry.
NHS Tayside bosses have defended their record on GPs — including their takeover of a Dundee doctors’ practice.