Ryehill surgery will shut

NHS Tayside has confirmed the closure of Ryehill GP surgery in Dundee, with patients to be assigned a new doctor from July.

The health board says patients will be transferred to family doctors local to where they live after a recommendation to close the practice was accepted.

The Tele revealed in February how more than 5,000 patients faced uncertainty after the current partners at the practice told of their intention to terminate their contract, citing an inability to recruit doctors.

NHS Tayside says it has been working with Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership to explore various options to ensure Ryehill patients can still see a GP.

A spokesman said the main consideration had been the “provision of safe and effective care” as well as ensuring access to a GP could be delivered “safely and sustainably in the longer term”.

They explained the preferred option – for existing patients to be transferred to a “small number” of local GP practices – was approved.

“Patients are now being sent individual letters to advise them of this decision and to outline the next step in the process,” he said.

“We are trying to make the transfer as seamless and easy for patients and therefore they do not need to do anything.

“NHS Tayside will register patients with another GP local to where they live and they will automatically transfer on July 1 to their new practice.”

While the GPs have terminated their contract, the health centre, of which the GP surgery occupies a small area, will remain open.

Ryehill Health Centre