Acharacle Medical Practice The Pines Medical Centre Acharacle, Ardnamurchan, Argyll, PH36 4JU

Surgery Times

The surgery times shown below may be subject to change due to annual leave
CONSULTATION BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Please ring 01967 431231 to make an appointment
Kilchoan patients please ring 01972 510202 to make an appointment

Acharacle Surgery

Strontian Surgery

Kilchoan Doctor's Surgery

Specialist Nurse Clinics

Practice News - 11th November 2011

Acharacle Medical Practice
Statement Regarding Out of Hours Provision

Dr Rob Colebrook and Dr Simon Topham of Acharacle Medical Practice have served notice to Mid-Highland Community Health Partnership that they wish to opt out of the provision of General Medical Services during the Out of Hours period, i.e. 6 pm to 8 am, plus weekends and Bank Holidays.

This decision has been made for personal reasons after much thought and discussion between Rob and Simon. For the past 3 years they have provided 24 hour cover solely between themselves. The pressure from providing out-of-hours services has an increasing impact on the Doctors’ ability to provide an effective and efficient in-hours service. This pressure is particularly noticeable when either Rob or Simon are taking annual leave or attending training courses. Our wish is to make the Practice more resilient, as the complexities of providing General Practice services increase from year to year.

Rob and Simon are among the last few of the ‘breed’ of family doctors who have been accustomed to providing 24 hour care to their patients. However, this is not the case for younger GPs, who do not expect to work during both the in-hours and out-of-hours periods. In order to future-proof the provision of General Practice for our patients it is important to have in place a system that would attract potential GPs.

Rob and Simon would like to reassure their patients that they will continue to provide end-of-life care for terminally ill patients and to respond to emergency calls from the Ambulance Service during the out-of-hours period.

Mid-Highland CHP is responsible for ensuring the provision of General Practice out of hours services throughout the region. Over the next few months the CHP will be looking to develop a suitable replacement for the Out of Hours period. Until such time, Rob and Simon will continue to provide 24 hour care.

 

Out of Hours & Emergency Calls
If you require a Doctor out of hours or in an emergency please telephone the surgery on 01967 431231.
If you feel you have a problem which needs to be dealt with the same day, please ring the surgery and inform the receptionist that you wish to be seen the same day. We have a Duty Doctor available every day who is responsible for dealing with home visits and emergency appointments or telephone advice.

Out of hours your call will be answered by NHS24. If you need a doctor NHS24 will arrange for the Duty Doctor to call you back. This will normally be either Dr Colebrook or Dr Topham.

You may also telephone NHS24 directly for advice on 08454 24 24 24
NHS24 Website Address http:/www.nhs24.com

 

Home Visits
If a patient is unable to attend the surgery, then a home visit can be made.
Requests for these should be made before 10.00am,
if possible to allow the Doctor to plan the day.

The receptionist may ask you what the problem is
as the Doctor needs to prioritise home visits.

Patient Responsibilities
Please telephone to cancel your appointment if you cannot attend so
that it can be allocated to another patient.

This practice operates a zero-tolerance policy of verbal or physical
aggression towards all practice staff.

 

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Acharacle Medical Practice
The Pines Medical Centre
Acharacle, Ardnamurchan, Argyll, PH36 4JU
Tel: 01967 431231 Fax: 01967 431396

 

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