TUESDAY, 14 MAY, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Forfar GP practice lists reopen

All GP surgeries in Forfar are now open for new registrations following a period of list closures.

Academy Medical Centre, Lour Road Group Practice and Ravenswood Surgery opened their lists to new registrations on 1 May 2019 and now welcome new patients to register. During the period of list closures, new residents were allocated a practice on a rotational basis via Practitioner Service in Aberdeen. 

Dr Nico Grunenberg, Ravenswood Surgery and Cluster Lead GP, said, “All general practices are largely contracted to deliver the same range of services, but increasingly practices are having to adapt how these services are delivered to meet patient demand with their available staffing resources.

“All Forfar practices provide same day access based on medical need and are increasingly using the telephone as a means of communication with our registered population. We deal with a significant number of patient concerns by telephone so people don’t have to take time off work to attend the practice. This ensures we have appointments available for those requiring a face-to-face consultation to be seen by the most appropriate healthcare professional.  All practices also try wherever possible to support continuity of care for those within the practice with the most.”

Rhona Guild, Primary Care Manager, Angus Health and Social Care Partnership, said, “The current challenges of running a general practice are well recognised across the country, with recruitment and increasing patient demand for access to primary healthcare a national issue. In Angus, one of the challenges has also been high rates of movement of patients between practices. 

“A new Scottish GP contract was introduced in 2018 and by 2021 changes will be introduced in all Scottish practices to make them more sustainable in the longer term to meet the expected ongoing growth in demand for services. This will mean a growing range of professionals supporting delivery of care within general practice, with reduced reliance on the GP to signpost and refer to the appropriate services.”

Both Academy Medical Centre and Ravenswood Surgery have managed significant changes to medical staffing over the past year, with both practices welcoming new GPs to the team over recent weeks. All Forfar practices now have experienced nurse practitioners supporting the GPs in assessment and management of minor illnesses.

If anyone registered with one of the local practices has any concerns or questions about the services available in their practice or concerns about the care provided, they should contact the practice manager who will be happy to help. The practices have websites with information about the services provided along with links to other useful resources.

Academy Medical Centre and Ravenswood Surgery also have active Patient Participation Groups who are always looking for new members. If you are registered with either practice and are keen to get involved, please contact the practice manager who can provide further information. 

Sent on behalf of the Angus Health and Social Care Partnership.

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

Carin Pettersson

01382 740716