Uncertainty hangs over the future of healthcare provision in the Carse of Gowrie as NHS Tayside grapples with the impending closure of Carse Medical Practice. The current GPs running the Errol surgery have given notice of their intention to terminate their contract, citing persistent difficulties in recruiting new doctors, particularly to replace those nearing retirement. The closure, scheduled for September 12, 2025, would leave a significant gap in primary care services between Perth and Dundee, impacting approximately 3,600 patients.
While the practice’s website acknowledges the unsuccessful recruitment efforts and the subsequent decision to close, NHS Tayside has confirmed that closure is not the only option being considered. The health board is actively exploring a range of possibilities to ensure continued access to GP services for the affected community. Among the strategies being evaluated are attracting a new provider to operate the existing surgery, merging the practice with a neighboring one, or even having NHS Tayside directly manage the service. The possibility of integrating the practice with another directly-managed surgery within Tayside is also on the table, although no such practices currently exist in Perth and Kinross. Should a new GP be recruited, the possibility of withdrawing the closure notice entirely remains open. Community Leaders Seek Assurance and Urge Patient Retention
The potential loss of the Carse Medical Practice follows the closure of Invergowrie Medical Practice in 2023, exacerbating concerns about access to healthcare in the Carse of Gowrie. Local political figures have voiced their concerns and pledged their support to find a viable solution. First Minister John Swinney, during a parliamentary session, acknowledged the unacceptability of patients facing long journeys for medical attention and committed to working with NHS Tayside to resolve the situation.
Local councillor Alasdair Bailey, echoing community anxieties, has organized a public meeting at Errol Village Hall to discuss the issue. He has expressed cautious optimism about the options being explored by NHS Tayside and the First Minister’s involvement, hoping for a positive outcome for local residents. Fellow councillor Angus Forbes has emphasized the importance of patients remaining registered with Carse Medical Practice during this period. Maintaining patient numbers, he argues, will reinforce the community’s need for a fully-functioning GP surgery and strengthen the case presented to the NHS board. NHS Tayside, while acknowledging that these discussions are in their initial stages, has assured patients that the practice will remain fully operational until the September deadline and that they will be kept updated throughout the process. Navigating the Options
The various options present a complex landscape for the future of the practice. Attracting a new provider could offer a seamless transition, but the recruitment challenges faced by the current GPs highlight the difficulty of this approach. Merging with another practice could create capacity issues and potentially impact travel times for patients. Direct management by NHS Tayside, while offering a solution, could present different administrative hurdles. Dispersing patients to surrounding practices, while a last resort, would significantly disrupt established patient-doctor relationships and potentially overwhelm existing services in Perth and Dundee. The preferred option, naturally, would be the recruitment of new GPs, allowing Carse Medical Practice to continue serving the community uninterrupted. The ongoing discussions between NHS Tayside, local representatives, and the community will be crucial in shaping the future of healthcare in the Carse of Gowrie, balancing the need for accessible local services with the practical realities of GP recruitment and resource management.
While the practice’s website acknowledges the unsuccessful recruitment efforts and the subsequent decision to close, NHS Tayside has confirmed that closure is not the only option being considered. The health board is actively exploring a range of possibilities to ensure continued access to GP services for the affected community. Among the strategies being evaluated are attracting a new provider to operate the existing surgery, merging the practice with a neighboring one, or even having NHS Tayside directly manage the service. The possibility of integrating the practice with another directly-managed surgery within Tayside is also on the table, although no such practices currently exist in Perth and Kinross. Should a new GP be recruited, the possibility of withdrawing the closure notice entirely remains open. Community Leaders Seek Assurance and Urge Patient Retention
The potential loss of the Carse Medical Practice follows the closure of Invergowrie Medical Practice in 2023, exacerbating concerns about access to healthcare in the Carse of Gowrie. Local political figures have voiced their concerns and pledged their support to find a viable solution. First Minister John Swinney, during a parliamentary session, acknowledged the unacceptability of patients facing long journeys for medical attention and committed to working with NHS Tayside to resolve the situation.
Local councillor Alasdair Bailey, echoing community anxieties, has organized a public meeting at Errol Village Hall to discuss the issue. He has expressed cautious optimism about the options being explored by NHS Tayside and the First Minister’s involvement, hoping for a positive outcome for local residents. Fellow councillor Angus Forbes has emphasized the importance of patients remaining registered with Carse Medical Practice during this period. Maintaining patient numbers, he argues, will reinforce the community’s need for a fully-functioning GP surgery and strengthen the case presented to the NHS board. NHS Tayside, while acknowledging that these discussions are in their initial stages, has assured patients that the practice will remain fully operational until the September deadline and that they will be kept updated throughout the process. Navigating the Options
The various options present a complex landscape for the future of the practice. Attracting a new provider could offer a seamless transition, but the recruitment challenges faced by the current GPs highlight the difficulty of this approach. Merging with another practice could create capacity issues and potentially impact travel times for patients. Direct management by NHS Tayside, while offering a solution, could present different administrative hurdles. Dispersing patients to surrounding practices, while a last resort, would significantly disrupt established patient-doctor relationships and potentially overwhelm existing services in Perth and Dundee. The preferred option, naturally, would be the recruitment of new GPs, allowing Carse Medical Practice to continue serving the community uninterrupted. The ongoing discussions between NHS Tayside, local representatives, and the community will be crucial in shaping the future of healthcare in the Carse of Gowrie, balancing the need for accessible local services with the practical realities of GP recruitment and resource management.