New management is being sought for three GP surgeries in Fife.
NHS Fife and Fife Health and Social Care Partnership are looking for contractors for Kinghorn Medical Practice, Valleyfield Practice and the Links Practice in Burntisland.
They’ve been operating them since previous GP partners became unable deliver their contracted general medical services.
It follows concerns about vacancies and shortages across Courier country this year.
What happens next for Fife GP surgeries?
Work has been going on for some time to return these practices to independent contractors.
Now NHS Fife confirms there’s currently a level of interest to merit a tender process.
NHS Fife and the Fife Health and Social Care are following the national procurement framework.
How long will it take?
Those interested in taking over the general medical services contracts are now being invited to submit detailed proposals.
Then a process of assessment and evaluation will be completed for each submission in the new year.
Any successful bids will be approved by the NHS Fife Board in Spring 2023.
Patients of the three practices will be kept up to date throughout with any developments.
A patient information hub has also been created on the NHS Fife website to answer questions.
NHS Fife Medical Director, Dr Christopher McKenna adds if new management isn’t found their efforts will continue to ensure people have access to services.
He adds: “Any parties seeking to take over the running of any of the practices will have to demonstrate they have the clinical staffing resources to provide patients with a good level of service.”
Action is ‘promising’
Councillor Graeme Downie has worked with the local community to campaign for improvements at Valleyfield GP Practice.
He says: “The community has been raising concerns about Valleyfield Practice for years.
“It shouldn’t have taken so long for something to be done.
“But it’s promising to finally see NHS Fife take action to improve the service.
“This is the beginning of a process and the campaign will continue until local people are getting the medical services from their local practice that they deserve.”
Conversation