Montrose minor injury unit has become a casualty of Covid.
The Links Health centre facility was temporarily shut in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Health chiefs have now confirmed it will not re-open.
They say there was little demand for the service.
And it has been replaced by a new care and treatment set-up there.
Two-hour trip
But it’s left Montrose residents facing a trip to Forfar or Arbroath to be seen at evenings or weekends.
And some are forced to make a round trip to Dundee of two hours or longer.
A north-east MSP says the move has left patients with “extremely limited medical care”.
Conservative Tess White said some constituents had to travel to Ninewells because MIUs in Forfar or Arbroath were too busy.
“It’s totally inexcusable to leave patients with a two-hour round trip to receive healthcare – many of whom may not have access to transport,” she said.
“The situation is disgraceful and is adding to the pressure faced by other MIUs across Angus.
“The closure of Montrose means residents are not only travelling further in cases of injury or illness, but that they may have to present at acute settings which are already oversubscribed.”
What Angus provision remains?
There are still two MIUs in Angus.
Arbroath Infirmary: Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm.
Whitehills Health and Community Care Centre, Forfar: Monday to Sunday 9am to 4.30pm.
NHS Tayside advice is that Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, people with a minor illness should contact their own GP surgery for an appointment.
They say patients with new or relatively recent minor injuries should go to their nearest MIU.
The health body’s position
Angus Health and Social Care Partnership said, “The Minor Injury Unit (MIU) at Montrose was closed in 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Angus residents continued to have access to minor injury services at Arbroath Infirmary and Whitehills HCCC.
“Patient activity at the MIU in Montrose was monitored and it was found that very few people were attending due to injury.”
The majority of patients were turning up for “planned care”.
What is the new set-up?
AHSCP say: “In line with the General Medical Services contract, Care and Treatment Centres have been developed.”
Those offer services such as phlebotomy, blood pressure monitoring, leg ulcer assessment and suture removal.
“The Community Care and Treatment service at Links Health Centre in Montrose opened in July 2021 providing local people with access to some services previously provided in the MIU.
“The model aims to shift the balance of care to allow GPs and practice nurses more time to focus on patients with complex health needs and conditions.
“GPs may appoint patients to be seen at Care and Treatment Centres and can redirect injury presentations to the most appropriate healthcare professional.
“Out of hours, members of the public should contact NHS24 on 111 where they will be assessed and directed to the appropriate clinical service.”
They added: “The Covid-19 pandemic also led to a wider national change in the way people access urgent care across Scotland.
“In December 2020, the Scottish Government launched the ‘Right Care Right Place campaign’ which advised members of the public to call 111, day or night to be directed to the most appropriate urgent care setting for their needs.”
It included a national TV, radio, newspaper and social media campaign.
Every household in Scotland also received a 12-page information booklet.
“Local messages have also been shared regularly,” AHSCP said.
