NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 8 February 2010 PRAISE FOR KINLOCH RANNOCH CAMPAIGNERS Mid-Scotland & Fife Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has praised the efforts of the Kinloch Rannoch community following their petition to the Scottish Parliament which has led to the Scottish Parliament’s Health & Sport Committee undertaking a national inquiry into rural out-of-hours provision into remote and rural areas of Scotland. The Committee visited Kinloch Rannoch to take evidence on the matter as well as questioning the Cabinet Secretary for Health Nicola Sturgeon MSP in the Scottish Parliament as well as other stakeholders in out-of-hours GP cover delivery. Commenting, Murdo Fraser said: “I thank the local community of Kinloch Rannoch for submitting their petition on the lack of a GP out-of-hours service as it has led to the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee undertaking a comprehensive and thorough investigation into the service across Scotland. “I am sure that the Committee will now make recommendations that will hopefully see benefits for rural and remote communities across Scotland. This is all down to the hard work and campaigning by people in Kinloch Rannoch who are still fighting for an adequate out-of-hours health service and I will continue to campaign on their behalf. “There is no doubt that this inquiry instigated by the community of Kinloch Rannoch has highlighted many serious issues when it comes to provision of out-of-hours GP cover in rural and remote areas. Submissions to the Health Committee’s inquiry into out-of-hours healthcare provision in rural areas indicates that rural areas like Highland Perthshire are getting a second-class service. “The people of Kinloch Rannoch clearly do not want a diluted health service and it is clear that the area needs out-of-hours GP cover due to its size and distance from a hospital. It has been made clear to NHS Tayside that the reinstatement of out-of-hours GP cover is needed and many people, including health experts, believe that anything short of this will not be adequate cover.” ENDS   back to top of page