Action demanded for Ardler and St Mary's patients as GP surgery closes
A Dundee councillor is calling for urgent action to find a GP for hundreds of patients in Ardler and St Mary's.
- By Grant Smith
- Published in the Courier : 08.08.11
- Published online : 08.08.11 @ 01.39pm
Ian Borthwick will meet health chiefs on Monday, with fellow Strathmartine ward councillor Kevin Keenan and MSP Jenny Marra, to discuss the closure of the Turnberry Avenue surgery.
NHS Tayside has terminated the contract of its GP, Dr Dennis Charles Miller, and has told his 1700 patients they will temporarily have to travel to Wallacetown Health Centre for treatment.
Mr Borthwick took part in a demonstration against the closure last week and said he expected management to show their "commitment" to the community.
He said, "They must give assurances that the people of Ardler and St Mary's will continue to have a full health service, including a GP, that is consistent with the size of the population.
"People have worked hard in recent years to improve the area and build a cohesive community. Recent events have undermined their confidence.
"They are feeling they have been abandoned, and it's up to the health board to restore public confidence."
Seeking assurance
Mr Borthwick said it would be unacceptable for patients to be "scattered to the four winds" by having to transfer to other surgeries in the city.
He said NHS Tayside's action — which was prompted by General Medical Council concerns about Dr Miller — was abrupt and had lacked an understanding of the impact it would have on patients.
He stressed he was not getting involved in a situation involving an individual doctor, although he did note Dr Miller was highly regarded in the community.
Rather, his interest is in seeking a "categorical assurance" from health chiefs that a GP surgery service would be retained for the people of Ardler and St Mary's.
The surgery closes on Monday and Mr Borthwick said one of the purposes of the meeting would be to ensure action was taken swiftly to provide continuity of service for the "ordinary, decent people" who had staged Friday's protest.
NHS Tayside has previously said it acted because the GMC had placed restrictions on Dr Miller that had affected his ability to work and the surgery could not provide the level of service required by patients.
There had not been time to consult the community before ending the contract, it said.
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