A PUBLIC meeting is to be held in the wake of concerns from patients over making appointments at Musselburgh Primary Care Centre.

The debate has been organised by East Lothian MP Martin Whitfield and Kezia Dugdale MSP, former Scottish Labour leader at the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Whitfield said: “Since being elected to Parliament last year, many constituents in Musselburgh, Wallyford and Whitecraig have raised concerns about GP services in the area.

“Residents have described experiencing difficulties making appointments or having to wait for up to three weeks just to see a GP.

“That is why I am organising this meeting on Musselburgh’s GP services with my Holyrood colleague Kezia Dugdale, who covers Musselburgh as part of Lothian region. We intend to hold it in a constructive manner, to help ensure that NHS decision-makers are aware of the problems experienced by local people and encouraged to do more to respond to them.”

The public meeting takes place in the Fisherrow Centre on Thursday, June 7, starting at 7pm.

Ms Dugdale added: “Doctors’ leaders have warned that hundreds of millions of pounds have been cut from funding for local GP practices over recent years. That has had a huge impact on GP services across Scotland, including Musselburgh.

“I have received numerous complaints about the steady deterioration in GP services. This has been particularly problematic in Musselburgh.”

Eskbridge Medical Practice, one of three at the primary care centre, came under fire at the end of 2015 for introducing a new patient booking system ‘Phone First’. Patients had to leave their name and number via telephone and were later called back by a doctor.

In January this year, Eskbridge merged with the Riverside Medical Practice to form the largest practice in East Lothian, with about 19,000 patients.

Inveresk Medical Practice, which is also based at the primary care centre on Inveresk Road, was unaffected by the change.

An East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership spokesperson said: “Improving patient access to primary care services is a key priority.

“Riverside Medical Practice is at the centre of a groundbreaking service improvements programme involving East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership and NHS 24. The new service is aimed at providing capacity within the practice, enabling not only an increase in the number of patient appointments with practice GPs and other healthcare professionals but also an increase in appointment length for patients with complex needs.

“The practice has developed an innovative way of working with NHS 24 to support patients looking for a same-day appointment. These patients are safely triaged by NHS 24’s healthcare team who provide the patient with the most appropriate method of care. Importantly, those who require to see a GP still do so, but for some, their needs may be best met by seeing another health professional.

“We are aware that for some patients who request a routine appointment with a specific GP there can be a longer wait. However, the new system ensures urgent care is dealt with on the same day and patients should have no anxieties about being seen by the right professional at the right time.

“While initial indications of patient satisfaction with their experience of the GP triage outcomes are positive, the health and social care partnership is aware there are problems with the capacity of the telephone system which has caused delays in patients getting through. And for this an urgent proposal for a new system is currently being developed.”