GPs CLOSURE IS HITTING HOME
Patients not making appointments
Patients from a crisishi t health centre are avoiding booking vital appointments because they are being forced to travel to neighbouring surgeries.
Stoneyburn Health Centre was forced to close its doors on Friday ( June 1), leaving the village with no GP.
Anyone who needs to see a doctor will now have to travel to Fauldhouse or elsewhere and campaigners who had been fighting to keep the surgery open say hard-up families, the elderly and disabled will be hardest hit.
The surgery shut on Friday after all its GPs resigned with no replacements being found in time.
Ann Greechan, chair of Stoneyburn Community Council, said feelings are running high in the village, with a protest at the Scottish Parliament planned.
And she said it looks like people have already been thinking twice about booking an appointment to see a GP because they would have to travel.
“I have been advised that in fact
folk have held back from asking for appointments, this has resulted in a number of appointments left free,” she said.
“There have been three GPs sitting in the Fauldhouse surgery this week so far. There has been an increase in the number of NHS 24 calls over the weekend and this I am sure is down to the situation.
“At a community centre management committee meeting on Monday folk were feeling that they wouldn’t take up appointments for their diabetic check-ups etc and this is worrying given most are elderly.
“Feelings are still running high and I have been approached by villagers staging a protest at our parliament. I will be discussing this with our MSPs and have emailed them.”
Labour MSP Neil Findlay blamed the crisis on the SNP, saying politicians had “betrayed” the people of Stoneyburn.
“This is a devastating closure that leaves the Stoneyburn community without a doctor,” he said.
“This means the people of Stoneyburn will be forced to travel to neighbouring villages for treatment.
“The people of Stoneyburn and Scotland deserve better than an SNP government overseeing a staffing crisis in our health service.”
SNP MSP Angela Constance said she would continue to press NHS Lothian to ensure some services are retained at the health centre.
“Our local community has my full commitment and support in this matter and I will continue to support them with ongoing representations to all involved,” she said.
“The increased funding available for the practice under the new GMS contract will hopefully encourage new applicants to take over the practice but, in the meantime, everything must be done to minimise disruption for patients.”