A final decision on the future of the out-of-hours GP service at Glenrothes Hospital will not be taken for at least another four months.
Fife’s NHS chiefs have pledged to undertake further detailed analysis of all the available options before deciding whether the closure-threatened service should move to Kirkcaldy.
This is likely to take until the spring, when a paper outlining the findings will be presented to the community.
The undertaking has been welcomed by the area’s MP Lindsay Roy and MSP Tricia Marwick, who have led a campaign to keep the out-of-hours service in Glenrothes.
It follows a meeting between the two politicians and NHS Fife board chairman James McGoldrick and chief executive John Wilson.
The health board wants to relocate the service to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, which has accident and emergency facilities, but campaigners argue that it should stay at Glenrothes.
Mr Roy described the meeting as very fruitful and thanked Professor McGoldrick and Mr Wilson for agreeing to it.
”We were able to talk about the various issues face to face and we agreed that, for the benefit of the people who use the service, further analysis needs to be done,” he said.
”It is a time for reflection and hopefully this will provide reassurance to the Glenrothes catchment area that the issues that have been raised are being taken seriously.”
He added: ”We do need more evidence to support the views being put forward by clinicians and, once we have this, there will be further consultations.
”NHS Fife have now promised to consider all the options very carefully before any decision is made and I welcome this commitment.”
Mrs Marwick also welcomed the commitment and added: ”I am pleased that the two senior officials of NHS Fife have agreed that the proposals need to be looked at again and that there will be a period of reconsideration about what options can meet the needs of the people of the Glenrothes area.
”Lindsay and I have been in regular discussions with the health board about this and we are pleased that they have now responded in a positive way to our representations.
”We are grateful to them for the careful consideration of the issues that have been made by many representatives in Glenrothes and are looking forward to working with them to deliver the out-of-hours service that best meets the needs of our communities.”
Mr Wilson said NHS Fife appreciated the strength of feeling shown by local people worried about the impact moving the service to Kirkcaldy would have.
Glenrothes out-of-hours serves 80,000 people in the town and surrounding areas and people fear those without a car will be badly affected.
Mr Wilson said: ”We agree that further work needs to be done.
”We anticipate it will be the spring before this is completed, but we will not rush it.
”It is important that we get it right and we will take as long as necessary.
”Once the analysis is done, a paper outlining the advantages and disadvantages of the options will be produced and shared with the community.
”Further discussions will then held with the various interested parties and only once this has been completed will a final decision be made.”
Professor McGoldrick added: ”NHS Fife remains committed to listening to the views of local people.
”We recognise that this is an important issue for the people of Glenrothes and surrounding communities served by the out-of-hours GP Service at Glenrothes Hospital.
”Further analysis will take place in the coming weeks and we will consult further with local communities on the concerns that have been raised.”