PEOPLE needing Out of Hours medical services in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area in the early hours will have to continue to use the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, for six months at least

The contingency measures apply between midnight to 8am, where Primary Care Emergency Services (also known as GP Out of Hours) will be only be available at the Victoria Hospital.

The contingency measures were put in place on April 9 2017 and this will remain in place until the end of August 2019 when a further update will be provided.

This decision, says NHS Fife, has been taken as a result of on-going nursing and medical staffing difficulties and has been taken to ensure patient safety.

Michael Kellet, Director, Fife Health and Social Care Partnership said: “Our patients are our main priority, keeping them safe and providing a quality service.

"To ensure this happens we need to extend contingency measures for out of hours care for a further six months. Staff shortages continues to be the biggest challenge.”

Michael continued: “Fife like many other areas across the UK, is experiencing the impact of national shortages of key staff in this area. "Recruitment of GPs and nursing staff remains a focus for us and feedback from the recent Joining Up Care consultation will help to inform how we move this forward.

"We will continually review performance over the next six months and provide an update at the end of July.”

Current arrangements in place for Out of Hours are from 6pm to midnight (Monday to Friday) and 8am to midnight (weekends and public holidays) at Queen Margaret and Glenrothes Hospitals. PCES will continue to be delivered as normal from Queen Margaret Community Hospital, Dunfermline.

There will continue to be no changes to the operation of the Minor Injuries Unit at Queen Margaret Hospital.

Local MSPs Annabelle Ewing (Cowdenbeath) and Jenny Gilruth (Kinglassie) have been pressing for a return to the Queen Margaret to provide the service for Crossgates, Hill of Beath, Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly, Lumphinnans and Benarty; and Glenrothes Hospital for Cardenden and Kinglassie. However, currently it still seems some time away.