The Morvern and Acharacle Medical Practices have taken the first steps required to facilitate a GP practice merge, with completion of the merger taking place later this year in October.
The merger of the practices, which will include Acharacle’s branch surgeries in Strontian and Kilchoan, will enable closer working relationships between teams, permanent staff, and continuity of care between practices.
The first phase of the merger has seen the successful recruitment of a third GP which will allow the team to bring consistency of care to the populations of Acharacle, Kilchoan, Lochaline and Strontian.
For patients with Morvern Medical Practice this will bring stability after a year where care has been provided by NHS locums. However, to ensure we can maintain continuity of care across these areas we have had to make some changes to appointment systems in Lochaline.
Appointments will be available at Morvern Medical practice Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 09:00 to 17:00. On Tuesday and Thursday administrative staff will be available to advise on appointments and, if required, contact the Duty Doctor. These changes will take place from 03 July.
As with all health board-run practices, all appointments will initially be a telephone consultation with the GP who will then decide next steps.
There will be no changes to the dispensing of medication or the process for ordering repeat prescriptions.
Jill Mitchell, Head of Primary Care with NHS Highland said: “We’re pleased that we have been able to recruit a permanent GP and the merger of the practices has begun.
“While operational hours at Morvern have changed, how patients contact the practice and arrange an appointment has not.
“Having a larger multi-disciplinary team in place will benefit both patients and staff. There will be medical cover across the areas of Acharacle, Kilchoan, Lochaline and Strontian, bringing continuity for our patients and stability during what is a challenging time for NHS staffing.”
Read more about Lochaber health and social care redesign.