The continued closure of Montrose Infirmary’s GP ward could eventually lead to “disaster” for patients, a top doctor has said.
Dr Kristien Hintjens has also accused NHS Tayside of “potentially misleading the public” in its reasons given for not reopening the GP ward.
The hospital has been closed since late April after the failure of heating and water systems, but NHS Tayside has confirmed the maternity unit at the hospital will reopen within weeks.
But they say they will not be moving elderly patients who were transferred to Brechin back to the Montrose GP ward immediately for what has been described as sound clinical reasons.
Expressing concern for its long-term future, Dr Hintjens is one of two of the town’s doctors who have now written to NHS Tayside calling for the GP ward to be reopened as soon as possible.
North East MSP Alex Johnstone last night said the concerns being expressed by the town’s GPs must be taken “extremely seriously”.
“It wasn’t that long ago that I joined people from Montrose to publicly protest at the possible closure of the infirmary, and against this backdrop, we must take the valid concerns of health professionals extremely seriously.
“NHS Tayside must make clear what the situation is with Montrose Infirmary, because the prevarication and lack of information we are seeing is doing immense harm to the confidence of local people and, frankly, it’s just not good enough.”
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