NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 16 September 2009a SNP GOVERNMENT MUST LISTEN TO KINLOCH RANNOCH Mid-Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has called on the Cabinet Secretary for Health Nicola Sturgeon MSP to listen and act on the concerns voiced by members of the Kinloch Rannoch community regarding the reinstatement of an out-of-hours GP service. A number of residents from Kinloch Rannoch outlined their concerns to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and the NHS Tayside Board during the broad’s annual performance review. Murdo believes that Kinloch Rannoch requires a return to a 24-hour GP cover due to the remoteness of the area. On the matter of out-of-hours GP service for Kinloch Rannoch, Murdo has already organised a community meeting on the issue as well as lodging parliamentary questions and raising the issue in the Scottish Parliament Debating Chamber. Commenting, Murdo said: “The people of Kinloch Rannoch have made it clear to the NHS Tayside Board and to the Cabinet Secretary for Health Nicola Sturgeon MSP that they do not want a diluted health service. Residents of Kinloch Rannoch outlined that they need out-of-hours GP cover due to the size of the area affected and the distance from the nearest hospital. “Nicola Sturgeon has failed to reply to a number of invitations to come to Kinloch Rannoch and address the community regarding their health service. As she has refused to visit the area, I am glad that a number of residents have travelled to the NHS Tayside Board meeting and made their views known. This underlines the strong feelings in Kinloch Rannoch on this important matter. “In the past, Nicola Sturgeon has intervened and reversed the closure of A&E Departments so she is also able to intervene and reverse the decision to end the out-of-hours GP cover in Kinloch Rannoch. “NHS Tayside is an excellent Health Board that listens to the community that it serves. That is why it must understand that the only service that is appropriate in Kinloch Rannoch is to provide out-of-hours GP cover. I know that locals believe that lives may be at risk due to the changed arrangements and losing out-of-hours GP cover.” ENDS   back to top of page