Friockheim health centre set to close
A Conservative MSP says the closure will "have a knock-on effect to surgeries in Forfar and Arbroath"
In a post on Facebook, Friockheim health centre announced it is set to close on the 31st May.
In the post Dr Scallan put the closure down to being unable to hire a replacement GP despite advertising the post for almost two years.
The post stated: "Dr Scallan has handed back her contract to NHS Tayside and will stop providing services on 31st May 2022. This is due to being unable to recruit a replacement GP partner for Dr MacDonald who retired from the practice on the 30th April 2021. The practice has been advertising for a replacement partner for nearly two years now without success."
Patients have been reassured that they do not need to take any immediate action and will be looked after by staff and the GP as the practice will operate as normal until the 31st May. Dr Scallan added in the Facebook post: "NHS Tayside and Angus Health and Social Care Partnership are working together to ensure that patients can access local GP and primary care services from 1st June 2022."
Reacting to the closure, north east region Scottish Conservative MSP Maurice Golden said: "The pressures facing GPs in Tayside and across Scotland were well known, long before the pandemic and they have been on the front line of our healthcare system through a difficult two years.
"Friockheim health centre serves a large rural population in south Angus and is a growing, thriving village. It is vital that it remains open to them after May. Any change would doubtless also have a knock-on effect to surgeries in Forfar and Arbroath. Services there are already stretched."
The MSP added: "I will take this up with the health secretary and ask what he is doing to help recruit GPs and keep local health settings running smoothly."