GPs have backed the decision to force the Ardler Surgery in Dundee to close, insisting that it could not provide the level of service its 1700 patients needed.
The Turnberry Avenue surgery, run by Dr Dennis Charles Miller, shut its doors at 6pm on Monday, leaving most of its patients temporarily having to travel more than three miles to Wallacetown for health care.
NHS Tayside’s GP Sub-Committee, which is the formal body representing all GPs, said it supported management’s move to terminate Dr Miller’s contract.
Its statement said, “This is a single-handed GP practice which was unable to deliver the level of service it was required to provide under the General Medical Services contract.
“The GP Sub-Committee shared NHS Tayside’s concern regarding risks to patient safety caused by failure to adequately ensure provision of GP service.
“Therefore, the GP Sub-Committee believes that NHS Tayside’s decision to terminate the GMS contract was a necessary course of action.”
It added, “GP practices have been making every effort to ensure that all patients can register with a new practice in as straightforward a manner as possible.
“The first priority for GPs across Tayside will continue to be providing high-quality patient care within general practice.”Registration the priorityArdler patients have already been sent a letter detailing the arrangements put in place to make sure they can see a doctor if they need to, and a freephone number 0800 232 1657 has been set up for those patients who have questions or need further advice.
The temporary practice at Wallacetown will look after the patients for the next eight weeks, but after that people will have to find another surgery to take them on.
The small number of patients who are housebound or who have more complex needs have already had GP services allocated to them.
However, they can register with a GP surgery of their choice later, if they wish to do so.
Dr Michelle Watts, NHS Tayside’s associate medical director for primary care, said, “This is an unavoidable situation and a decision which NHS Tayside acknowledges is very significant, not least for patients.
“However, the exceptional circumstances mean that there was no other course of action left open to us and it was absolutely necessary for us to terminate the contract at this time.”
She added, “We have already allocated GPs to the elderly and infirm residents and those who are vulnerable.
“However, if there are other people out in the community who need help registering then please let us know and we will support them to register with a GP practice if they are having difficulties doing that themselves.
“We also want patients to know that they will still have continued access to the same community staff, such as health visitors and community nurses and pharmacy services, that they have always used.”
Dr Watts said, “As we have said, at this time and in the short term, registration of patients is our priority.”‘Close watch’ neededJenny Marra, north-east Scotland Labour MSP, met NHS Tayside managers on Monday, along with councillors Ian Borthwick and Kevin Keenan, in whose Strathmartine ward the surgery lies.
She said they had robustly put the case on behalf of residents who wished to see a GP surgery retained in Ardler, although she said she accepted the argument that a single-doctor practice was not sustainable.
Managers had told them they were committed to improving health care in the area and that GP provision was “not off the agenda.”
The MSP said she and the councillors would continue to press the case for a surgery and for full public consultation on any future proposals from NHS Tayside.
Mr Borthwick said it had been a constructive meeting with a detailed discussion of the issues and he had highlighted his concerns about any diminution in services in an area that was affected by poverty and other problems.
He said, “I am not prepared to accept second-best for the area.
“I don’t want to see this drift into the sand I want to see action.”
He added, “A close watch will have to be kept on developments and the outcomes must have the endorsement of the community.”