Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, Murdo Fraser, has welcomed a reprieve that will ensure the Carse of Gowrie retains GP provision following the impending closure of current premises.
GPs have been served notice on their current practice and are expected to leave the building in April. With practitioners short on time a temporary plan has been put in place which will see a makeshift surgery built near Errol Station. This temporary structure has 5 years of planning permission, but the future after this is still unclear.
The St Madoes satellite surgery is still set to close at the end of this year and plans for a patient transport service have yet to be announced.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“This is good news in the short term, but it is important that a long-term future is found for GP services in the Carse of Gowrie.
“Having convenient access to a GP surgery is incredibly important and this measure will at least ensure this remains the case in the Carse.
“Nonetheless, the impending closure of the St Madoes practice is still bitterly disappointing and I would hope that an adequate patient transport service is created for patients who would otherwise struggle to travel to an appointment.”
Carse of Gowrie Councillor Angus Forbes said:
“I am delighted that the future of the Surgery for the Carse of Gowrie is secure and I know the staff at the Carse Medical Group are keen to get on with providing the high quality of medical care they are known for. I appreciate that the location on the edge of the town is not going to be ideal for everyone but I know that other options within the town were examined and deemed not suitable. On the positive side, this will be a more accessible building with better parking.
“I am disappointed that our efforts to keep St Madoes Practice open have not been successful. The main issue I have heard when talking to St Madoes residents over the last few months is the issue of transport. As a result of this I have been exploring opportunities to provide a transport service from St Madoes in conjunction with The Madoch Centre and I have met with a volunteer drivers service in Kinross to learn from them how such a service works there. If anyone would be interested in volunteering as a driver then they can contact me via email.”