Tarves Surgery – possible closure consultation on cards

Residents to air views on surgery – EVENING EXPRESS 18th July 2012

HEALTH bosses have set up a public consultation, over the possible closure of a rural medical surgery. Tarves residents hit out after it was proposed the community’s medical facility could be shut down due to financial uncertainty. The restructuring of dispensing surgeries in the surrounding area, including stopping dispensing services at the Tarves surgery, has left the site in a financial lurch, according to community leaders.

Aberdeenshire Councillor Paul Johnston today said the possible closure would have a negative effect on residents.
“The pain of losing the Tarves surgery would be very real locally,” he said.

Udny Community Council, Tarves Community Council and Methlick Community Council have all banded together, sending a joint letter to the First Minister, asking him to review the situation. Members of the public are due meet the NHS in August to discuss the issue.

Cllr Johnston added: “I hope that the public engagement meeting in August can explain what can be done.

“I doubt people will blame the doctors for any possible closure as the loss of the dispensing will have savagely’
altered the finances of running their surgeries.”

In April, NHS Grampian approved a new pharmacy in In April, NHS Grampian approved a new pharmacy in Tarves, which would serve people from the surrounding area. The pharmacy then sought the removal of dispensing at all of the Haddo Medical Group’s three surgeries. Community members claimed the changes would increase travel time to pick up their prescriptions and affect services.

A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said: “No decision has been made by NHS Grampian concerning the Tarves surgery. NHS Grampian is in the process of carrying out a review of primary care health services in the Haddo locality.

“This aims to assess what is available to the local population seeking to ensure good quality and accessible services,”

Story from the Evening Express 18th July 2012