An online campaign to see a full out-of-hours service reinstated at Perth Royal Infirmary attracted more than 3,000 supporters in the first 24 hours.
NHS Tayside operates the service in Perth from 1pm to 7pm at weekends, but the petition is calling for a full out-of hours service which was cut last year.
“I find it ridiculous that if ourselves or our children are unwell when a GP surgery is closed that we should have to travel 26 miles to Dundee to Kings Cross Hospital to see a doctor when we have PRI in Perth,” said petition organiser Jenna Rylance.
“I live a couple of minutes from PRI and have had to travel a 52-mile round trip to see a GP with my daughter.
Something that could have taken 30 minutes at PRI took three hours at Kings Cross. It’s 2016 and we need proper out-of-hours facilities in Perth for the wider communities in Perthshire.”
Her plea has struck a chord with the public including one mother who has much to thank the service for.
On Boxing Day Alison Cameron’s 22-month-old daughter, Marnie, became unwell and she was able to get an appointment with out-of-hours in Perth as it was open that day something she believes may have saved her daughter’s life.
“PRI out-of-hours rushed my daughter to the co-located resus room in PRI where she was given crucial fluids and IV antibiotic,” said mother of three Mrs Cameron, who lives with husband Ewan in Dunning.
It was established that Marnie had sepsis and she was taken from PRI to Ninewells Hospital and then transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh where she remained for 19 days, eight in intensive care on lifesupport as she was in a critical condition.
Marnie had begun having seizures in the car heading for hospital and Mrs Cameron believes the fact that she was seen in Perth rather than having to go to Dundee was vital in the speed of her treatment.
Scottish parliamentary candidate Murdo Fraser agreed about the need for a rethink on the out-of-hours service saying: “To have over 3,000 people sign this petition in just over one day demonstrates the real strength of feeling from local people in renewing out-of-hours cover at PRI.
Fellow parliamentary candidate for the Conservatives, Liz Smith, added: “For several months, the out-of-hours issue has been very significant right across Perth and Kinross.
“The extensive support for thispetition is evidence of how significant this issue is and how strongly local people feel about the future of their health services.”Position defended by NHSNHS Tayside says it is listening to public opinion as they shape the future of out-of-hoursprovision.
Director of community and primary care services Bill Nicoll explained: “The out-of-hours service in Tayside, in common with other out-of-hours and day time general practice services across Scotland, faces significant pressures in providing an appropriate level of cover for patients due to a national shortage of GP hours.
“In response, NHS Tayside consolidated the out-of-hours service at a single base at Kings Cross Health andCommunity Care Centre in Dundee in June 2015, which has allowed better planning and coordination of theservice across Tayside.
“When staffing allows, the out-of-hours service is also running weekend surgeries in Perth and Arbroath.
“There has been no change to how patients should contact out-of-hours services.
“If patients have a problem which cannot wait until GP surgeries re-open, they should contact NHS 24 on 111.
“If, following a medical needs assessment, any patient requires to see a doctor or other healthcare professional, NHS 24 will arrange for either a home visit, the patient to be seen at a local healthcarefacility or, in some instances, the patient to travel to the specialist Primary Care Emergency Centre.”