Plans to axe the out-of-hours GP service in one of Fife’s biggest towns have provoked fury among patients, doctors and politicians.
NHS Fife has proposed stopping emergency evening and weekend cover at Glenrothes Hospital and transferring the service to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.
The move would affect thousands of patients in the town as well as people across Levenmouth who are instructed to go to Glenrothes if they need a GP out of hours.
Glenrothes MSP Tricia Marwick and MP Lindsay Roy have claimed the proposed changes were mooted without any prior discussion with elected members.
NHS Fife has said it is realigning its primary care emergency services (PCES) to improve patient care and safety, and is communicating with the community.
But Mr Roy and Mrs Marwick claimed the outcome appeared to be a ”done deal” with the emphasis on briefing people about the changes rather than consulting them.
Mr Roy said he had been inundated with calls and emails from GPs, some of whom were ”incensed” by what had been proposed.
”They felt they had been kept out the loop,” he said. ”Both Tricia and I are firmly of the view that there needs to be extensive consultation with the people served by the Glenrothes out-of-hours service.
”We are seeking a meeting with the chair of NHS Fife in the very near future to discuss our concerns about what’s happened so far and consider how matters might proceed for the maximum benefit of the people of Glenrothes and central Fife.”
Mrs Marwick said she had first heard of the plan during an informal meeting with NHS Fife officials almost a fortnight ago.
”It was just a couple of lines in a paper and I asked some very pointed questions. This is absolutely unacceptable,” she said.
”Reading the paper, it was very clear to both Lindsay and me that what they were not talking about was consulting on the proposal. They were consulting on how to manage it and it is safe to say both Lindsay and I were absolutely furious incandescent.”
She added: ”I understand consultation of sorts had taken place over the winter months when some people were given a questionnaire. I haven’t seen the question but I suspect it was probably loaded.”
Mrs Marwick said 90% of people who attended the out-of-hours service in Glenrothes were dealt with there.
”NHS Fife are saying 10% of people who go to out-of-hours are then transferred to the Victoria, so therefore everyone should go to the Vic in the first place. Lindsay and I will ask for this to be suspended until there is proper consultation.”
Susan Manion, a general manager for NHS Fife, said there would be a discussion about the review of the PCES at the Glenrothes and North-east Fife Community Health Partnership committee next week.
”Further discussions with local groups including community councils are planned and a paper will go to the committee later in the year outlining the proposals and feedback from the public engagement work will be incorporated,” she said.