NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 13 January 2010b KINLOCH RANNOCH OOH HIGH UP THE POLITICAL AGENDA The Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee has confirmed it will visit Kinloch Rannoch later this month to take advice from the community during the Committee’s inquiry on out-of-hours healthcare provision in rural areas. The meeting will take place at the Macdonald Hotel in Kinloch Rannoch on Monday 25th January 2010, beginning at 10am. This meeting will be open to the public to watch proceedings. Mid-Scotland & Fife Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has registered to attend the meeting to hear concerns about the withdrawal of out-of-hours GP cover for the area. In 2009, Murdo Fraser MSP and Highland Councillor Ian Campbell organised a public meeting in Kinloch Rannoch on the future of the out-of-hours health service for the area. It is expected that evidence will be taken from representatives of community groups who have petitioned the Scottish Parliament on the subject of out of hours medical cover as well as from officials from relevant health boards, NHS 24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service. Murdo Fraser said: “It is welcome news that the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee is coming to Kinloch Rannoch to hear first hand from the local community regarding local healthcare provision and the withdrawal of out-of-hours GP cover. “Nicola Sturgeon was invited to Kinloch Rannoch several times to meet the local community regarding the issue of out-of-hours GP service and she refused each time, so it is good that the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee believe it is worth while to visit Highland Perthshire. “I believe NHS Tayside is a good Health Board but it must work with the local community to ensure that the healthcare provision is adequate. Clearly many residents in Kinloch Rannoch believe anything less than an out-of-hours GP service is not good enough. Everyone in the community and the surrounding area wants to see a health service that reflects the needs of Kinloch Rannoch residents and I am glad that the Health Committee will listen to the views of the local community. “This is our chance to set out the importance of out-of-hours GP cover for the area.” Councillor Ian Campbell said: “I am delighted that the dogged and persistent work by many in this community has been rewarded with this Scottish Government committee coming to Kinloch Rannoch to hear the views of local people first hand. “It is vitally important that local bodies like Tayside Health Board are seen to serve the needs of differing communities and address their specific concerns as much as possible and not try to impose a 'one size fits all ' solution that may be convenient for the Health Board but does not address local people's concerns.” ENDS   back to top of page