Patients group could be way forward for Loch Fyne communities

Inveraray community councillor Pamela Spalding told the Advertiser that GP provision in Inveraray and Furnace has been problematic for several years, leading to deterioration in patient care and poorer health outcomes for some.

“People have been struggling with getting appointments and trying to get any kind of continuity of care and this has led to negativity and a lack of engagement between the surgery and the patients,” she explained.

“There are five different doctors that come from the Lochgilphead practice to Inveraray. Every doctor seems to have a different idea and you have to start over again each time you see a different GP and everything just seems to stall with no continuity of care.

"Speaking to people locally, I know of many occasions where seeing the same doctor could have prevented things from getting much worse.”

It is hoped a clear way forward will be found at Tuesday’s meeting to create a group that can represent all Loch Fyne communities and work in partnership with the new contractor.

“We have already had a couple of meetings with people from West Loch Fyne, Inveraray and Furnace community councils and have had strong support for the idea of setting this up,” Pamela added.

“The hope is we can go to the new GP and say we have talked to people in the community and are ready to work with you in a positive way.

“Communication and engagement hasn’t been there in the past; previously the attitude has been, ‘the doctors are doing it this way and that’s it’, but we believe when people feel they have a say in their health service it makes a huge difference.”

The new PPG will be based on models its creators have researched throughout the country.

“We’ve heard success stories about engaged communities all over the UK leading to positive relationships between doctors and patients,” explained Pamela.

News of the creation of the new PPG was welcomed by Strachur principal GP Dr Robbie Baunsbak Coull, who has submitted a tender for the Inveraray and Furnace GP provision.

“The first thing we would do if we were successful would be to set up a PPG like we have in Strachur, so it’s fantastic this is already being set up,” he told the Advertiser

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“I believe strongly in bringing the patients in from the outset. It’s in everyone’s interest to work together. There are so many hidden resources and skills locally that we can tap into for the good of the patients. This gives amazing resilience that is so important for the success of a modern rural practice.”

The idea of the community working together to support the GP practice is at the heart of the PPG idea as Pamela explained: “I would hope the group would help create a community where the person along the road is involved in accounts, another in cleaning and such things. Together we can make the surgery feel it is somewhere we all belong and can participate in.

“I would like to think we would be able to put up posters there about everything from toddler groups to men’s mental health and menopause support groups.”

The PPG plans to offer an open email inbox for ideas and feedback as well as a high profile social media presence.

In the meantime, everyone interested in the future of the local GP service is invited to join Tuesday’s meeting.