CONCERN about the service at Riverside Medical Practice in Musselburgh has been highlighted in the Scottish Parliament.

The debate during Health Question Time at Holyrood last Wednesday followed a recent public meeting which was organised by East Lothian MP Martin Whitfield and Lothian MSP Kezia Dugdale (both Labour) at the Fisherrow Centre, which attracted more than 200 people.

Among the issues highlighted at the public meeting were long waits to get through to the surgery by telephone; failure of repeat prescriptions; poor communication with patients; very long waiting times to see a named GP; lack of continuity of care and treatment; difficulties with NHS 24; and test results not being given out by doctors.

Concerns were also raised about GP training and recruitment, the area’s growing population causing additional pressures on local health services, the cost of calling the surgery and the idea of an online booking system.

Last Wednesday, Ms Dugdale asked the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Lothian regarding general practitioner services in Musselburgh.

Shona Robison, who was Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport at the time, said: “NHS 24 is delivering a pilot at the Riverside GP practice in Musselburgh whereby it is triaging patients who have requested same-day GP appointments. Where appropriate, NHS 24 will signpost patients to areas of the primary care system that are better placed to meet their needs, often more swiftly. “Indications are that the pilot is working well, with a number of patients signposted to more appropriate support, freeing up GPs to deal with patients with more complex needs. A full evaluation is underway with a report due in the coming weeks, which will be shared with health boards and integration authorities.”

Ms Dugdale commented: “Earlier this month, 200 angry Musselburgh residents turned out at a public meeting because they have had real and persistent difficulties in accessing GPs locally. They do not think that the pilot is working that well. Many of the problems are caused by a GP shortage - a point that the practice and the British Medical Association have acknowledged. Can the cabinet secretary explain to my constituents why they have to phone NHS 24 to see their GP and when she expects Scotland’s GP shortage to be resolved?”

Ms Robison said: “The pilot that NHS 24 is running is a system that has worked well elsewhere and that has had strong evaluation, so I urge Kezia Dugdale to wait for the formal evaluation of the pilot. I am happy for her to be furnished with the evaluation if she would be interested in that.

“With regard to the way forward for general practice, she will be aware of the new contract that has been put in place with substantial resources to back it up. In this financial year, we will invest £100 million to support the new contract, and we also have the ambition to increase the number of GPs by at least 800 over the next 10 years. In addition, the multidisciplinary team will make sure that we can reduce the workload of GPs.”

Mr Whitfield told the Courier: “At the recent GP public meeting, Kezia and I agreed to take the concerns raised back to the practice, but also to NHS Lothian and the Scottish Government. Kezia has acted swiftly to challenge the Health Secretary on the issue and demand she does more to alleviate the problems experienced in Musselburgh.

“We have also passed on the issues and questions highlighted at the meeting to the practice. Once we receive a response we will share it with those who attended. We will also keep up the pressure locally and nationally for further action to help patients here receive the service they need.”

Mr Dugdale later said the appropriate steps needed to be taken to support “struggling” GP practices and prevent further closures.

Miles Briggs, Lothian Conservative MSP, who also took part in the Holyrood debate, later said: “The Health Secretary’s assurance that the pilot is working well in Musselburgh is totally at odds with the experience of many local patients who have expressed very real concerns about delays in getting through and arranging a routine GP appointment.

“Ministers and NHS Lothian need to respond to what are genuine issues being experienced by local residents and to take urgent action to address these.”