NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 25 January 2010 HEALTH COMMITTEE COMES TO KINLOCH RANNOCH Mid-Scotland & Fife Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser and Mary Scanlon MSP, Scottish Conservatives Spokeswoman on Health, attended the Health & Sport Committee in Kinloch Rannoch today (25 January). The Committee was taking evidence on out-of-hours healthcare provision in rural areas. This has been a major issue in Kinloch Rannoch since 2006 when the local GP opted out of providing out-of-hours cover. Mary Scanlon MSP quizzed NHS Tayside’s Chief Operating Officer Gerry Marr about the discrepancy in the costing for provision of an out-of-hours GP service in the area, which NHS Tayside had put at in excess of £500,000 when similar cover was provided in NHS Highlands & Islands for £140,000. Mary Scanlon also asked why NHS Tayside had changed its policy on the importance of GP out-of-hour cover in Kinloch Rannoch since 2005. Murdo Fraser MSP asked Mr Marr about journey times for doctors attending medical emergencies in the Rannoch area, and Mr Marr undertook to provide this information. The meeting also took evidence from Randolph Murray and Dick Barbour-Might for SOS Rannoch, who outlined their concerns on behalf of the community about lack of out-of-hours cover. The meeting was held in public and was well attended by local residents. Speaking after the meeting, Murdo Fraser said: “This was a very welcome opportunity for local community representatives to air their concerns about out-of-hours GP cover to the Scottish Parliament’s influential Health Committee. I have no doubt that this is a major issue in the local area. “The Committee’s inquiry into out-of-hours healthcare provision in rural areas came about largely as a result of Randolph Murray’s petition to the Scottish Parliament on the subject. I am sure that residents in the Rannoch area will be awaiting the Committee’s report with keen interest.” ENDS   back to top of page