Health Committee Hearing in Kinloch Rannoch
25.01.10
The meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Health & Sport Committee was held in public and well attended by local residents in Kinloch Rannoch on 25 January
The Committee was taking evidence on out-of-hours healthcare provision in rural areas. This has been a major issue in Kinloch Rannoch since 2006 when the local GP opted out of providing out-of-hours cover.
Costings Discrepancy
Mary Scanlon MSP, Scottish Conservatives’ Spokeswoman on Health, quizzed NHS Tayside’s Chief Operating Officer Gerry Marr about the discrepancy in the costing for provision of an out-of-hours GP service in the area. NHS Tayside had put this at in excess of £500,000 when similar cover was provided in NHS Highlands & Islands for £140,000.
Mary Scanlon also asked why NHS Tayside had changed its policy on the importance of GP out-of-hour cover in Kinloch Rannoch since 2005.
Murdo Fraser MSP quizzed Mr Marr about journey times for doctors attending medical emergencies in the Rannoch area, and Mr Marr undertook to provide this information.
Local Voices
The meeting also took evidence from Randolph Murray and Dick Barbour-Might for SOS Rannoch, who outlined their concerns on behalf of the community about lack of out-of-hours cover.
Speaking after the meeting, Murdo Fraser said: “This was a very welcome opportunity for local community representatives to air their concerns about out-of-hours GP cover to the Scottish Parliament’s influential Health Committee. I have no doubt that this is a major issue in the local area.
“The Committee’s inquiry into out-of-hours healthcare provision in rural areas came about largely as a result of Randolph Murray’s petition to the Scottish Parliament on the subject. I am sure that residents in the Rannoch area will be awaiting the Committee’s report with keen interest.”
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