06-05-2025
Carse Medical Practice patients receive detailed letter from NHS Tayside about GP service options being explored
A local health chief has written to every patient addressing concerns and explaining the options currently being explored to continue GP services in the Carse of Gowrie
NHS Tayside's Primary Care Service's interim manager has written to all Carse of Gowrie Medical Practice patients outlining what is being done to continue GP services locally.
It comes after the GPs at Carse Medical Practice gave notice to NHS Tayside to terminate their General Medical Services (GMS) contract on September 12.
Local resident and councillor Alasdair Bailey welcomed the "much-improved communication" from the health board.
The letter - written by Primary Care Services interim manager Rachel Bennison - stressed the practice remains open and fully operational until September 12 and there is "no need" for patients to take any action or move to another practice.
In her letter, she wrote: "NHS Tayside and Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) are working together closely to ensure GP provision in the area is safe and sustainable. NHS Tayside is responsible for appointing contracts for GP practices and the HSCP works with local practices to support them."
The five options being considered are:
advertising the GMS contract to a new provider
merging with another GP practice
NHS Tayside taking direct control of running the practice (2C model)
merging with another practice run directly by NHS Tayside
dispersing patients to nearby practices if necessary.
Rachel Bennison explained what was happening right now.
She said: "The options being explored will take some time to work through. The advert to seek a new GP or practice to take over the practice is already live, however there is a special tender process which has to be followed and this is likely to be a key focus for the next few months.
"The tendering procurement process will conclude at the end of June and information on the outcomes will be shared with you once this can be shared publicly (this is a process governed by legislation and there are strict rules about this)."
Her letter explained that once the options appraisal is complete, a report will be presented to Perth and Kinross Integration Joint Board - the governing body for Perth and Kinross HSCP.
The Primary Care Services chief said: "The decision on which option is chosen will be made by NHS Tayside, taking into account the views of the IJB, who are advised by the HSCP."
The letter also provided answers to several questions raised by worried patients whose concerns included: an increased population, GP recruitment, Carse Medical Practice being in a temporary building for so long and transport.
Carse of Gowrie ward councillor Alasdair Bailey was one of many local residents who got the letter through his door this week. The Labour councillor has pledged to continue pushing to ensure the community's voices are heard.
Bailie Bailey said: "I welcome NHS Tayside's much-improved communication which makes it clear to patients that there's work under way to continue the GP provision locally.
"I'll carry on pushing to ensure that our voices are heard but this is a good sign that they're hearing the questions that the community are asking and are taking them into account during their process.
"Hopefully the tender exercise is successful but I hope that the option of the NHS running the surgery directly is also still under serious consideration."
NHS Tayside has reaffirmed its commitment to "finding the best possible outcome for the Carse community".
A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said: "We have written to patients of Carse Medical Practice to provide further details of the next steps in the process.
"NHS Tayside and Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership are continuing to work together to ensure patients can access ongoing GP care after 12 September 2025.
"We remain committed to finding the best possible outcome for the Carse community and will continue to keep them informed as planning develops."
