MP Lesley Laird had every right to ask NHS Fife if the organisation believed it could cope with the rigours this winter will present.

Especially the problems with having enough GPs to cover all bases.

The surgeries in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area have not had their problems to seek in attracting replacement doctors when one leaves.

It has led to concern among patients who have sometimes faced either having to queue up outside surgeries before 7am in the morning or make continuous telephone calls to get an appointment.

Ms Laird's queries brought a reasoned response from NHS Fife's medical director which underlined that they were working with surgeries to try and put into place mechanisms that can plug some of the gaps.

It was stressed that improvement is the name of their game and as the weeks and months evolve we will find out if their ways of tackling the problems posed are working.