*** Consultation Period has now closed ***
CONSULTATION ON THE PROPOSAL TO REMOVE SATELLITE TWECHAR WEDNESDAY MORNING SURGERY FROM LOCATION WITHIN ROOM IN TWECHAR HEALTHY LIVING CENTRE AND THEREAFTER PRACTICE SOLELY FROM OUR PREMISES IN KIRKINTILLOCH HEALTH AND CARE CENTRE, KIRKINTILLOCH
As you may already be aware, Woodhead Medical Practice consults from two locations, our main site at Kirkintilloch and our satellite surgery at Twechar on a Wednesday morning.
The Practice is currently seeking permission from NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde to consolidate service provision to its Kirkintilloch premises. This would require the removal of our Wednesday morning surgery from Twechar. All Twechar patients would continue to receive medical care from the surgery in Kirkintilloch. There are no plans to withdraw GP services from patients in the Twechar area or remove any patients from our practice list. The proposal is to have our service located wholly in Kirkintilloch, where a full range of health care services are available. At present, all Twechar patients need to attend the Kirkintilloch surgery for many conditions, such as chronic disease reviews, blood taking, wound review, ear syringing, cervical smears and minor surgery as we cannot provide these services from Twechar as the premises are not suitable.
On reviewing reasons why patients had attended the Twechar surgery, we noted that 75% of patients who had been seen there could have been managed by telephone or video appointments with a doctor, and avoided the need to have to attend the surgery. Many problems can be dealt with by telephone or video consultation, therefore reducing the need for a face to face appointment.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we have had to suspend services at the Twechar surgery in the meantime in line with current guidance.
In order to assist in the wide ranging consultation process that is required prior to such a decision being approved, the Practice has been asked to undertake a survey of those patients who currently attend at Twechar. Patients who are resident in Twechar have already been sent a questionnaire which they have been asked to complete and return as part of the consultation process. The consultation process will close on Monday 24th August 2020.
The consultation process will also include the local MP, MSP, Councillors, Public Participation Groups and Local Community Groups.
If you have any queries about the closure of our satellite surgery, please direct them to Mrs Pauline Wilmoth, Practice Manager.
