The Colonsay job has gone to Dunoon GP Dr Clive Mast who is originally from South Africa where he trained, while a medical practice from Denny in the Falkirk council area has been awarded the contract for delivering Coll’s GP services.
Denny Cross Medical Practice will take over the running of the Coll GP Practice, from April 1 next year and is planning a meet and greet event in the new year to get to know their new patients.
A representative from Denny Cross said: “As a partnership we are very much looking forward to providing high quality medical services to the community on the Isle of Coll. We will strive to deliver a sustainable service for years to come that patients can rely on. We are excited to become integrated within the community and hope to begin our engagement as soon as possible with a meet and greet community event early in the New Year.”
GP services on Colonsay and Coll will continue to be delivered by locums until the new arrangements come into place.
An extensive procurement process led to Dr Mast being awarded the General Medical Service contract and Out of Hours contract for Colonsay. He also starts on April 1.
Interim Head of Primary Care for Argyll and Bute HSCP Fiona Duff said: “We are absolutely delighted that after a robust procurement process, which included the involvement of community representatives from the island, we have been able to offer the General Medical Services contract and Out of Hours contract to Dr Clive Mast.
"Awarding the contract to Dr Mast ensures that we continue to have a high quality health professional who will provide a safe, resilient and sustainable service to the local communities served by the GP Practice on Colonsay."
And she thanked the previous GP Dr Simon Willetts, who recently retired, for his commitment and hard work.
Dr Mast, who has also worked in New Zealand, and the UK for the past 22 years - 11 of which were in Dunoon, said he was "excited" to be moving to Colonsay and to be providing the island’s primary care needs.
The Colonsay practice also includes Oronsay and is based from the surgery in Scalasaig, which is one of the two population’s two man settlements, the other being Kilchattan.
Ms Duff also thanked previous Coll GP Dr Celine O’Neill who recently retired.