CIVIC leaders want to form a group to discuss feedback on the service at the Eskbridge Medical Practice, which came under fire for its booking system this year.

The idea of a patient involvement group for the three GP practices based at the Musselburgh Primary Care Centre, mooted at a meeting with health bosses back in February, has not moved forward.

Eskbridge, which is directly managed by the NHS, was criticised at meeting of Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council at the end of last year for introducing the new booking system.

READ MORE: 'Dreadful' new booking system at medical practice criticised

Patients have to leave their name and number via telephone and are called back by a doctor. It was also claimed the surgery closed for lunch, which has been disputed by staff.

Chairman Irene Tait told last week’s meeting of the community council that she visited the surgery at lunchtime and was told it was open from 8am to 6pm, and phone calls were answered.

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Cllr Stuart Currie said: “I was quite a fan of the open surgery in the morning because it gave you that certainty that you would be seen by a doctor.”

Mrs Tait commented: “I think that would be most people’s expectation.”

She said it was not always convenient for people to take phone calls at work.

Mr Currie said that the satisfaction of people with access to surgeries across East Lothian was “not a good figure”, but once patients saw a medical professional, satisfaction was “very high”. In certain areas, he said, the situation was “more acute”.

He highlighted the need for a patient forum meeting to be held every six months to discuss feedback about the GP practices in Musselburgh.

He said he would raise the issue with David Small, director of East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership.