OOH Restoration to Rannoch/Tummel:
Unanimous Support Given by Elected Politicians
Rannoch and Tummel Community Council recently called on the area’s six elected representatives to say whether or not they support the local community position, which is: for the restoration of locally-based GP cover at nights and weekends, operating out of the surgery in Kinloch Rannoch.
Peter MacLellan, community council member resident in the area for the last 42 years, wrote an open letter to the elected representatives on 22 May saying: “In recent years we have suffered a significant diminution in both GP and paramedic services. We believe that this situation is unacceptable. We know only too well, as you will through knowing your constituents, that periodically residents as well as visitors experience distress and even potential danger because of the insufficiencies in the professionally run NHS services in this remote rural area.”
The letter continued: “Whatever might be its value as a supplement to such services, First Responders is not a substitute for what we have lost and are determined to regain. The present out-of-hours position, where we are supposed to be sent a doctor operating from Pitlochry or Aberfeldy, is not acceptable and represents unsafe practice.”
Unanimous Response
All six elected representative have responded to this letter. These are Westminster MP Pete Wishart; the two MSPs Murdo Fraser and John Swinney; and the three P&K Councillors Ian Campbell, Kate Howie and Ken Lyall.
The six elected representatives have all broadly affirmed their support for the community campaign. They have said that they have been, and continue to be, engaged on the issue and that they wish to help, for example, by making representations to NHS Tayside.
Pleased at the support given to the community council, Peter MacLellan said: “We are grateful for the support and hope that this will help us to bring about a change of mind in NHS Tayside. We are also hoping that the Scottish Government, which has the overall responsibility for what is done by NHS Health Boards, will provide us with a remedy”
Alex Grosset, the chairman of the community council, added: “This has been a long running campaign and we have never given up. We respect the people who are volunteering for the First Responders scheme. But we really do need locally based doctors with their diagnostic skills.
“There should be a solution. There are 17 other remote places in the Highlands that have 24/7 GP cover and other such practices in the Scottish Islands. So, why not us?”
Support Statements
The six elected representatives are all broadly supportive of the aim of the community campaign. These are extracts from their letters:
• “I support the community’s demands for full time medical cover and have raised these concerns with Scottish Government colleagues. This though is a responsibility of NHS Tayside and they must demonstrate that they have the appropriate arrangements in place for all of their area of responsibility.” (Pete Wishart MP)
• “I am clearly of the view that the current situation is unsustainable, in that it does not provide adequate cover for the community in the Rannoch area...(and)...Whilst there may be a value to creating a First Responder service in an area like Kinloch Rannoch, you are undoubtedly correct in stating that this should be seen as supplementary to a GP service and not as a substitute.” (Murdo Fraser MSP)
• “I have consistently asserted on behalf of the local community the desire for out of hours services to be provided by a locally-based GP. This is a matter that should be addressed by NHS Tayside as part of its responsibility to provide appropriate out of hours services in all areas of the Board’s responsibility. I am concerned by the fact that agreement has not been reached with the local community about the provision of appropriate out of hours services.” (John Swinney MSP)
• “I can confirm that I am fully supportive of the community’s efforts to secure an out of hours GP in this part of Highland Perthshire. Indeed I consider it a necessity and that it is completely unacceptable that this community is being ignored in its request to NHS Tayside for adequate health cover.” (P&K C’llr Ian Campbell)
• “I do support the provision of an out of hours facility provided by the local GP. I must just add that I have spoken to quite a few other residents of the area and their view is different from what you have termed the community position. They have told me that they are happy with the existing arrangements, but felt inhibited to voice their opinions in any public meeting.” (P&K C’llr Kate Howe)
• “To answer your direct question, I support the community’ position on the OOH issue, i.e. regain the GP OOH service, promote and try to set up the First Responder Scheme and as such will do all I can to ensure that both happens. I truly believe this IS the community’s view and I believe that the CC is out of step re the First Responder Scheme.” (P&K C’llr Ken Lyall)
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