Meeting with community council over GP services
A goal of securing the best possible providers of GP services out of the towns of Lockerbie and Moffat was agreed upon at a recent meeting which took place on December 21st.
That was the shared objective which emerged out of a productive meeting of Lockerbie and District Community Council which was attended by senior representatives of Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership (DGHSCP).
Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Medical Director Dr Grecy Bell said: “We were extremely grateful to be asked to attend the meeting of Lockerbie and District Community Council.
“It came after we made an approach to all active community councils in upper Annandale, offering to discuss the implications of Alba Medical Group’s decision to give notice on their contract to provide general practice medical services out of the towns of Lockerbie and Moffat with effect from May 31.
“We very much appreciate and share local communities’ concern about ensuring provision of good quality GP services, and discussion took place around the approach to the national tendering process which is designed to secure alternate providers.”
Attending from DGHSCP in addition to Dr Bell were Medical Director Dr Kenneth Donaldson, Director of Strategic Planning and Transformation David Rowland and Communication and Engagement Manager Rod Edgar.
An update was provided that the tendering process for the GP contracts had been launched on 14 December, seeking expressions of interest from potential providers.
With a view to securing alternative providers before the end of May, work will take place to move through the standardised national tendering process as set out at the following website address: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2015/446/contents/made
However, David Rowland said: “We explained at the meeting with Lockerbie Community Council that we are keen to ensure as strong community involvement in this as the process allows – and are looking to explore what options are available.
“We have committed to updating the community around these arrangements, and in the meantime are hoping that we will begin to receive expressions of interest from GPs who, as per the national approach, would deliver these services as independent contractors. The alternative is for these practices to move back under Board control, which does not fit with the tried and tested approach of having independent, GP-led practices within the heart of our local communities.
“At Tuesday night’s meeting we all agreed that there is learning to take from past experiences, including the part that NHS Dumfries and Galloway can play in supporting new providers and local people as the new model beds in.
“We are set to meet with other community councils in the area early in the new year, and will be hoping that we can then make good progress towards securing provision of good quality GP services for these communities.”
