GP patients are given assurances over care

NHS Tayside’s Primary Care Service's interim manager has written to all Carse of Gowrie Medical Practice patients outlining what is being done to continue GP services locally.

- KATHRYN ANDERSON

It comes after the GPs at Carse Medical Practice gave notice to NHS Tayside to terminate their General Medical Services (GMS) contract on September 12.

Local resident and councillor Alasdair Bailey welcomed the “much-improved communication” from the health board.

The letter - written by Primary Care Services interim manager Rachel Bennison - stressed the practice remains open and fully operational until September 12 and there is “no need” for patients to take any action or move to another practice.

In her letter, she wrote: “NHS Tayside and Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) are working together closely to ensure GP provision in the area is safe and sustainable. NHS Tayside is responsible for appointing contracts for GP practices and the HSCP works with local practices to support them.”

The five options being considered are:

advertising the GMS contract to a new provider

merging with another GP practice

NHS Tayside taking direct control of running the practice (2C model)

merging with another practice run directly by NHS Tayside