EAST Lothian’s MSP has written to the director of East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership regarding a pressing difficulty in accessing GP appointments in Tranent, following door-to-door sessions with residents living in the top 10 per cent of deprived areas in Scotland.

Paul McLennan MSP spoke with residents during a door-knocking session earlier this month.

Many expressed to him that there was an ongoing difficulty in securing doctors’ appointments at Tranent Medical Practice.

He then wrote a letter to Alison Macdonald, director of East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, on December 7.

Mr McLennan told the Courier: “The issue was raised in a recent door-knocking exercise in the Coalgate area.

“In East Lothian, we have two areas that are in the top 10 per cent of deprivation in the SIMD (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation) – one in Tranent and one in Prestonpans. Both these areas have approximately 175 to 200 houses in their locale.

“My team and I hope to speak to every house in the area in the next few months, Covid-permitting, to ascertain what their concerns are as well as their aspirations.

“The residents we spoke to were incredibly open about their issues, hopes and aspirations.

“Health inequalities are one of the measures in the SIMD suite of measures. We need to ensure that this issue isn’t made worse.”

In his letter, Mr McLennan addressed his concern that the inability to access GP services when medical care was required “may be a driver of health inequalities in these areas”.

The letter added: “The most pressing issue raised by residents was the difficulty they reported experiencing when trying to make appointments to see or speak with a GP, an issue that I am told has been ongoing since before cautionary restrictions were put in place as a result of the pandemic.”

It has been provisionally agreed to hold a meeting involving about 20 local and national organisations which help deliver projects tackling poverty in East Lothian.

The MSP added: “This will look at the work being carried out, such as gaps in provision, opportunities for collaboration and ways to move ahead.”