By: A.C.
Earlier this year it was announced by NHS Grampian that Brimmond Medical Group was to close.
With about 8000 patients on its books, this was a blow to the communities in the North of Aberdeen. The following communication has been received by residents as to what is happening with Brimmond, and Gilbert Road Medical Group in Bucksburn.
“Many of you will be aware of the recent announcement that Brimmond Medical Group will cease providing services to patients at the end of September 2015. Over the course of the past weeks and months, NHS Grampian has undertaken a confidential tendering process to ensure continuation of these services.
As you may be aware, your practice, Gilbert Road Medical Group has also been experiencing recruitment difficulties for some considerable time, and the situation will become more challenging with retirements at the end of September 2015.
To ensure continuation of services for all patients in the area, it is extremely important that we re¬organise how services are delivered. This will mean a change of GP practice for some of the existing Gilbert Road patients, from 1 October 2015.
Gilbert Road patients who live in the areas of Dyce, Newmachar, Kingseat, Whiterashes, and Fintray, will be re-registered with New Dyce Medical Group from 1 October 2015. New Dyce Medical Group will be a new GP practice, run by Scotstown Medical Group, pending recruitment of clinical staff. Services will continue to be delivered from Dyce Health Centre, as previously. If you or your family are to be re-registered with New Dyce Medical Group, the details of this will be confirmed in writing closer to 1 October 2015 – no action is required on your part.
From 1 October 2015 Gilbert Road Medical Group will have a different practice boundary which covers the Bucksburn area and the immediate localities along the A96 (plus Stoneywood, Newhills, Craibstone, Blackburn, Kinellar and Clinterty). The practice will also take on a proportion of the Brimmond Medical Group patients resident in these areas. Existing Gilbert Road patients living in these main areas will remain with the practice.
I recognise this is a significant change for some Gilbert Road Medical Group patients, which is unexpected. I wish to assure patients the change is absolutely necessary to ensure continuation of services across the north area of Aberdeen and into the commuter belt.
Considerable work is now ongoing to ensure these changes take place as smoothly as possible. Most importantly, for patients moving from the Gilbert Road practice list to the New Dyce Medical Group list, re-registration will take place electronically – no action will be necessary on your part.”