Petition launched in attempt to save Perthshire village surgery from closure

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A petition has been launched in an attempt to save a Perthshire village surgery from closure.Stunned Invergowrie Medical Practice patients were told last month the health facility would shut permanently on June 16.An inability to recruit following retirements at both the Ancrum and Invergowrie practices has now left a single GP managing both practices.That GP did not feel that this was safe or sustainable, so they chose to resign from the Invergowrie contract.The announcement of the closure was met with concern from patients and local politicians, with Perthshire North MSP John Swinney saying he was “deeply disappointed”.But village is fighting back with Carse of Gowrie councillor Alasdair Bailey launching a petition to galvanize local support to keep the practice open.The petition has over 350 signatures so far.He said: “I really wanted to get public support out there on for the surgery in Invergowrie.“It is very important to have a GP surgery in the village rather than residents attending other GPs elsewhere.“There are no good direct bus routes to the other nearest GPs.“For example to get to the Errol surgery it is a long bus journey and they do not come along very often.“The NHS is assessing a number of options.

But I want to show there is support for keeping it open.”The council Bailie believes that NHS Tayside should take over direct operation of the practice instead of leasing it to an independent physicians.Lochee and Maryfield practices in Dundee and Abbey and Brechin practices in Angus are run directly by NHS Tayside.“How many GPs in Perthshire have closed in recent years?

he queried.“There are two GPs in Dundee and two in Angus that the NHS has taken direct operation of - but there are none in Perth and