Central Fife Times | News | Doctors can't cope with demand

Saturday, 6th September, 2008

Published: Thursday, 26th June, 2008 11:00

Doctors can't cope with demand

By Peter Swindon

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Lochgelly Medical Practice

Doctors at Lochgelly Medical Practice say the town’s population growth has left them unable to cope with an ever-increasing demand for treatment.

In a letter seen by the Times, Doctors Cattanach, Thompson and Martins Da Silva appeal to local MSP, Helen Eadie, for advice.

They say there has been “no provision whatsoever” made to cope with incomers.

Mrs Eadie has since contacted Health Secretary, Nicola Sturgeon, and the Chief Executive of NHS Fife, George Brechin, seeking a solution.

The letter states: “It has been far from easy trying to keep medical provision running smoothly. Lochgelly and the surrounding areas which make up our practice population is a very high demand area.”

The doctors go on to say providing appointments for patients who need them is an “extremely difficult task”, before concluding: “Ultimately, things in Lochgelly are going to get worse, as there is a vast amount of housing building going on and no provision whatsoever has been made to accommodate the medical care of these incoming people.”

Mrs Eadie said: “The future problems raised predicts a unacceptable situation and the government should look at what they can do to remedy an unfair situation that can lead to many people not being properly serviced by the health service. I therefore urge the Scottish government to act to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

The Dunfermline East MSP’s concerns were shared by local councillors.

The SNP’s Ian Chisholm said: “I will be contacting NHS Fife to urge them to adopt an interim solution to the heavy patient demand in the area.

“While the huge expansion in housing proposed for Lochgelly in the newly adopted draft local plan will address the schooling and other service needs of the community, it's fair to say that the project is a few years away yet.

“There are much smaller ongoing developments which do bring additional pressure on local GPs, not only in Lochgelly, but also in Dundonald for example, and I think we need to look at the bigger picture in Fife, work with the NHS to get our service here in Lochgelly and Cardenden up to the excellence I have seen in other practices in Fife.”

Labour councillor, Mark Hood, said he would work with Mrs Eadie to arrange a meeting with NHS Fife and the council “to see what can be done to resolve this issue”.

“This seems to be getting worse,” he said. “The number of people that have spoken to me recently regarding the length of time that they are waiting to see a doctor is concerning.

“And this issue is not restricted to Lochgelly - I have also had similar comments from residents in the Cardenden area.

“I am particularly frustrated with the situation in Lochgelly. The town has been part of a regeneration programme for a number of years but we do not seem to have any clear plan as to how the town will develop.

“It is clear to me that there is a gaping hole in the development plan where there should be details outlining how we will be increasing the provision of local services to meet the future demands of the town’s population.”

Susan Manion, general manager of Dunfermline and West Fife CHP, said: “NHS Fife are aware of the situation and a meeting has been arranged for 3rd July with all relevant parties to seek a solution to the current situation.”

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