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Responding to the latest contribution to the local Out-of-Hours (OOH) debate by P&K councillor Ken Lyall, Alexander Grosset, Chairman of Rannoch & Tummel Community Council, has maintained:
C’llr Lyall’s writings willfully misrepresent our position. ‘I will not get into the assumption that the CC represents the majority of people in Kinloch Rannoch…’
From the initial public meeting chaired by John Swinney, the community council under the chairmanship of my predecessor and myself has striven to represent the views of the entire community. There have been numerous regular meetings and special meetings, as well as hand-delivered circulars with doorstep chats. I have taken part in all of these, unlike C’llr Lyall.

Unfounded Comments

I would consider it dishonourable to represent other than the view of the majority. At the same time, I have tried to give balance and respect to those who have been uneasy or have expressed doubts and fears. Regrettably C’llr Lyall’s unfounded comments do nothing but confuse and mis-represent, allowing NHS Tayside further opportunity to defer and deflect.
He states NHS24 is not the solution to the problem. He campaigns for better ambulance cover in Highland Perthshire. He lauds First Response. We have no quarrel with any of these. We consider them to be valid and important in their own right. The issues are separate. The effect of implying there is a correlation weakens all four objectives.
We have fought hard to repel the past allegation that our campaign implies criticism of the Aberfeldy and Kinloch Rannoch in-hours practice. Hopefully that has been refuted, but now we find we are required to defend against other accusations.

First Responders Not A Substitute

Community First Responders, here sponsored by NHS Tayside with the Scottish Ambulance Service, is a welcome addition to the ‘999’ services available to Rannoch and Tummel or any area for the reasons quoted by C’llr Lyall and shared by R&T community council. It is not a substitute for the restoration OOH of a GP diagnostic service. That is the objective of NHS Tayside and it is that which is resisted.
To succeed in the campaign for restoration and retention of such services in Rannoch and Tummel and elsewhere (it is) necessary (that) we must not be splintered nor deflected. C’llr Lyall closes by stating his belief of the communities view. I am glad he does. In that he accepts the view of the community council.

Alexander Grosset,  Chairman of Rannoch & Tummel Community Council

See also: OOH Kinloch Rannoch: One Councillor's Response