Residents in a Perthshire town are in shock after it was announced the local medical practice will close at the end of next week.
Yesterday morning (August 22) a notice was placed on the window of Bridge of Earn GP surgery stating the practice will be shut on Friday, August 30 - leaving the 3500 registered patients without a medical centre.
GP staff also face the axe with many local residents taking to social media to voice their anger at the Main Street surgery decision.
The notice reads: “It is with great regret that we have been informed by NHS Tayside that the practice will close at 6pm on Friday, August 30.
“We have been assured by the health board that they will be writing to all patients to allocate them to a new GP as soon as possible.
“We thank you all for your patience and understanding at this extremely difficult time.”
The controversial move comes after weeks of uncertainty following an announcement on August 2 that both the practice’s GPs would resign on August 30.
Residents and councillors have since sought plans for provisions from NHS Tayside to compensate for the loss of the two GPS.
However, yesterday’s announcement comes as a crushing blow to locals.
Almond and Earn ward councillor, Henry Anderson, said: “NHS Tayside have serious questions to answer over their professional competence.
See more: Fears for the future as Bridge of Earn GP surgery closes doors
“It’s a ridiculous thought that people are being told on the 21st that by the 30th they won’t have a job.
“I have been working with the community to seek to resolve this situation since my election in 2012 and all-in-all my dealings with management in NHS Tayside I have found one consistent feature to prevail over all others: inaction.
“All local Bridge of Earn patients will be scattered to the four winds. No community the size of Bridge of Earn should be without GP services.”
Fellow ward councillor Kathleen Baird and Mid Scotland and Fife MSP, Liz Smith, are calling on health officials to confirm what arrangements will be put in place to secure the future of the practice.
Liz Smith said: “Everyone understands the extreme pressures facing GP services but the long wait for accurate information is a matter of grave concern.”
Cllr Baird added: “It is vital that we have clarity from NHS Tayside over what will happen when the current contract expires on September 1.”
A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said: “NHS Tayside and Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership are continuing to review potential arrangements to ensure continuity of service provision for local patients. Providing good quality, safe and sustainable patient care is our priority. Every effort is being made to ensure patient services are in place to meet the needs of the population.”
