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NHS chiefs quizzed on rural GPs NHS chiefs quizzed on rural GPs
(about 18 hours later)
Senior NHS figures are being questioned by MSPs, amid on-going concern over out-of-hours GP cover in rural areas. Senior NHS figures have been questioned by MSPs, amid ongoing concern over out-of-hours GP cover in rural areas.
Holyrood's health committee is taking evidence from health bosses at a special meeting in Loch Rannoch, Perthshire. Holyrood's health committee took evidence from health bosses at a special meeting in Kinloch Rannoch, Perthshire.
Residents in Kinloch Rannoch criticised an NHS Tayside decision not to reintroduce 24-hour local GP cover. Residents in the village criticised an NHS Tayside decision not to reintroduce 24-hour local GP cover.
NHS health boards now oversee the vast majority of services, after GPs were given the option to opt out in 2004.NHS health boards now oversee the vast majority of services, after GPs were given the option to opt out in 2004.
Kinloch Rannoch residents have raised concern that alternatives, such as the use of NHS 24, were not a substitute for doctors providing traditional GP care.Kinloch Rannoch residents have raised concern that alternatives, such as the use of NHS 24, were not a substitute for doctors providing traditional GP care.
We're absolutely clear there is an out of hours GP service for Kinloch Rannoch Gerry MarrNHS Tayside We're absolutely clear there is an out-of-hours GP service for Kinloch Rannoch Gerry MarrNHS Tayside
But NHS Tayside said providing care in rural areas - whether in or out of hours - was a priority, and insisted the arrangements it had in place to cover the area were reliable and safe.But NHS Tayside said providing care in rural areas - whether in or out of hours - was a priority, and insisted the arrangements it had in place to cover the area were reliable and safe.
The health committee, which is holding an inquiry into the issue, will hear from bosses at NHS Tayside, NHS 24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service, as well as representatives from other rural health boards. The health committee, which is holding an inquiry into the issue, heard from bosses at NHS Tayside, NHS 24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service, as well as representatives from other rural health boards.
MSPs will also question local residents who have campaigned against the health authority's move. MSPs also questioned local residents who have campaigned against the health authority's move.
One of them, Randolph Murray, said the issue needed to be looked at again.One of them, Randolph Murray, said the issue needed to be looked at again.
"This is an area where GP services have been clearly undervalued in the past," he said in a submission to the committee."This is an area where GP services have been clearly undervalued in the past," he said in a submission to the committee.
But he added: "To write off altogether these services would be to compound this error.But he added: "To write off altogether these services would be to compound this error.
"Local doctors can save both lives and costs. This was proven at Rannoch over a period of well over 100 years with a doctor or doctor and assistant locally resident and able to attend every corner of this remote area within acceptable time limits and within reasonable cost constraints." "Local doctors can save both lives and costs. This was proven at Rannoch over a period of well over 100 years with a doctor, or doctor and assistant, locally resident and able to attend every corner of this remote area within acceptable time limits and within reasonable cost constraints."
NHS Tayside said its alternative arrangements included GPs in Perth and the Aberfeldy-Pitlochry areas able to respond to calls out of hours, as well as paramedics and nurse-led minor injury units at Crieff, Pitlochry and Blairgowrie.NHS Tayside said its alternative arrangements included GPs in Perth and the Aberfeldy-Pitlochry areas able to respond to calls out of hours, as well as paramedics and nurse-led minor injury units at Crieff, Pitlochry and Blairgowrie.
Service 'gap'Service 'gap'
The health authority's chief operating officer, Gerry Marr, told BBC Scotland: "We're absolutely clear there is an out of hours GP service for Kinloch Rannoch. The health authority's chief operating officer, Gerry Marr, told BBC Scotland: "We're absolutely clear there is an out-of-hours GP service for Kinloch Rannoch.
"What the community asked for and what we've not been able to provide is an out-of-hours service that involves the constant presence of a GP in Kinloch Rannoch village itself.""What the community asked for and what we've not been able to provide is an out-of-hours service that involves the constant presence of a GP in Kinloch Rannoch village itself."
Mr Marr stressed that, while cost was not a determining factor, the authority had to demonstrate value for money - and pointed out the cost per head of having a dedicated GP in Kinloch Rannoch would be more than £900 a year, compared to £15 under the current arrangements. Mr Marr stressed that, while cost was not a determining factor, the authority had to demonstrate value for money - and pointed out the cost per head of having a dedicated GP in Kinloch Rannoch would be more than £900 a year, compared with £15 under the current arrangements.
He added that recruiting a GP to provide out-of-hours cover in the village would be difficult.He added that recruiting a GP to provide out-of-hours cover in the village would be difficult.
Pauline Howie, chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, warned there were inconsistencies in the type and level of out-of-hours services across Scotland, resulting in the service filling a "gap" in provision.Pauline Howie, chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, warned there were inconsistencies in the type and level of out-of-hours services across Scotland, resulting in the service filling a "gap" in provision.
NHS 24 chief executive John Turner said his organisation was working closely with health boards, and had invested significantly to improve information on local areas to its staff.NHS 24 chief executive John Turner said his organisation was working closely with health boards, and had invested significantly to improve information on local areas to its staff.