South Scotland MSP Brian Whittle has contacted health board chiefs after concerns were raised about access to GP appointments in some small practices that operate as branches of larger practices based elsewhere.
After being contacted by a number of constituents who expressed their frustration at being unable to make an appointment with a GP at their local practice, MSP Brian wrote to the Chief Executive of NHS Ayrshire and Arran to clear up the situation. The health board has now replied and Brian wants to let communities know where they stand.
In Dalrymple, which is a branch site of the Riverside Medical Practice in Patna, opening hours are Monday 9am – 10.30am; Thursday 10am – 12.30pm and Friday 9am – 10.30am. All these appointments are reserved for Dalrymple residents, but the practice accepts that recent staff illnesses have meant fewer appointments were available than normal.
The Ochiltree Surgery is a branch of Auchinleck Surgery. Appointments are available on a Tuesday and a Friday but a GP will only be present if appointments have been made.
Mauchline’s GP Surgery is a branch of the Ballochmyle Medical Group, based in Catrine. Due to high patient demand there’s currently a three week wait for routine GP appointments but if a patient is seeking an urgent appointment on a day when none are available, then a clinician will phone them to advise. The Practice also has an advanced nurse practitioner who is qualified to deal with a range of medical issues and normally has on the day appointments.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“I’m grateful to everyone who got in touch with me to raise concerns about getting a GP appointment in their community. With a lack of GPs in the health service putting pressure on remaining surgeries, more small practices are having to merge with neighbours.
GPs are the first point of contact for many people with the health service and it’s vital the public can get an appointment in a reasonable amount of time.
I hope the information I’ve obtained from NHS Ayrshire & Arran about GP services in Dalrymple, Ochiltree and Mauchline is useful to those communities. If anyone else has problems getting an appointment with their GP or another issue they’d like to raise, I’ll do my best to help. You can contact me at [email protected] or by phone on 01563 544 399.”
