Doctor shortage forces NHS Tayside out-of-hours changes

NHS Tayside is to operate all of its out-of-hours care from a single base in Dundee due to a shortage of doctors.

The health board said "significant pressures" caused by a shortage of GPs across the country were behind the "temporary consolidation" move.

If patients need to see a doctor overnight or at the weekend, NHS24 will arrange a home visit, an appointment at a local facility or at the emergency centre at Kings Cross Health Centre.

The new model takes effect from Friday.

Minor injury and illness units across Tayside will operate as normal under the new system, and patients in Angus will not be affected as a similar system is already in place there.

However, the primary care emergency centre in Perth will not operate overnight and at weekends, and the health board said residents could be given assistance to travel to Dundee where necessary.

NHS Tayside said out-of-hours services and emergency departments saw a "significant increase in attendances" over weekends, public holidays and overnight, when GP surgeries are closed.

Dr Michelle Watts, associate medical director for primary care at NHS Tayside, said the change would make it easier to co-ordinate services across the region.

She said: "The out-of-hours service in Tayside, in common with other OOH and day-time general practice services across Scotland, has been facing significant pressures in providing an appropriate level of cover for patients due to a national shortage of GPs.

"This is a particular issue over the busy summer holiday period when shifts are more difficult to fill due to annual leave commitments.

"To address these challenges, NHS Tayside will temporarily consolidate the out-of-hours service at a single base which will allow us to better plan and co-ordinate the service across all areas in Tayside."