THERE are signs of progress this week after more than a year of concern at the lack of a permanent GP to serve people living in Garelochhead.

Lomond North councillor George Freeman, who lives in the village, contacted the Advertiser this week to advise that three 'advanced nurses' were to be recruited to serve the area as part of a reshaping of services in Helensburgh and Lomond.

Cllr Freeman's update comes after Garelochhead Community Council heard concerns at the lack of action by the Argyll and Bute health and social care partnership (HSCP) in recruiting a permanent GP for the village following Dr James McKelvie's retiral in June 2016.

Cllr Freeman said this week: “I have continued to pursue the GP vacancy at Garelochhead Medical Centre since the previous interviews were held last year. 

“Re-advertising the vacancy in the British Medical Journal was delayed by the NHS while they reviewed the services being provided at the practice. 

“This became a bit of a start stop process as approval was required for the proposed changes because of the additional costs involved.

“I have been told today that the proposal for three 'advanced nurse' posts to be based at the practice, and the Enhanced Practice Model, which was applied for recently, has now been approved by the senior management team.

“Officers are now developing the appropriate contract specification detailing the objectives etc and are now trying to get this out for advert in the next six weeks.

“We know that there is a serious shortage of GPs across Scotland with 25% of posts vacant but hopefully there will be good quality applicants when the Garelochhead GP post is re-advertised.”

Following the concerns expressed last month by GCC members over the series of locum GPs appointed to serve the village's residents, the Argyll and Bute HSCP - which took over the running of local GP services after Dr McKelvie retired - said it had put the recruitment process on hold so that it could investigate options to enhance the services provided in the village.

A partnership spokesman said this week: “We have been reconsidering our strategy with regard to the Garelochhead Medical Centre to ensure that we can develop and build on the wide range of services provided for the local community. 

“The first stage is to initiate a new procurement process for the practice which will allow us to continue to deliver local GP services in Garelochhead. 

“In addition, enhanced nursing services for the Helensburgh and Lomond locality will be provided through three anticipatory/emergency care nurses who will cover the Helensburgh and Lomond area. 

“This plan for a new and improved model of care is good news for the local community and we look forward to continuing to work with them as we move forward with the process.”