A LOCHGELLY community campaigner has launched a petition for more GPs as figures put deprived communities in Central Fife last in Fife and Tayside

Figures for 122 GP practices in Fife and Tayside published last week showed certain Central Fife surgeries at or near the bottom for telephone access, GP availability and patient satisfaction.

James Glen, a community campaigner and former chair of Lochgelly Community Council, wants urgent action from NHS Fife, Fife Council and the Scottish Government to send more GPs and associated primary care staff into Central Fife’s most deprived communities.

Mr Glen said: “We’ve known for ages that we haven’t got enough doctors in Lochgelly. But it was still a shock to see Lochgelly Health Centre rated the lowest for patient satisfaction (at 31.3 %) for the whole of Fife and Tayside.

"And it’s not a problem confined to Lochgelly: surgeries in Crossgates, Cowdenbeath and Benarty also did very badly.

"The whole of Scotland is affected by a shortage of GPs, but it’s hitting deprived communities in Central Fife a lot harder than more affluent places. If you live somewhere like Lochgelly, you’re not just more likely to suffer from poor health, you’ll also have a much harder job getting treated by your GP."

Mr Glen’s petition is addressed to the Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robison, the Executive Health Spokesperson for Fife Council Andrew Rodgers, and Allan Burns and Paul Hawkins, NHS Fife’s respective Chairman and Chief Executive.

Mr Glen added: “The political buck-passing needs to stop so the petition wants to see an emergency taskforce with a crystal-clear target: sort out the lack of GP services in Central Fife practices by getting their NHS Scotland Health and Care Experience measures for practices up to the Fife/Tayside average within 6 months.”

The petition is available online at change.org and is being distributed via social media. Paper copies are also being placed in local shops and surgeries.