GP jobs in Kilcreggan and Garelochhead have finally been advertised – months after the posts became vacant.
Argyll and Bute’s Health and Social Care Partnership, which this week revealed it had an underspend of £2.6m in the last financial year, has come under pressure with a councillor earlier this month branding the delay as ‘beyond ridiculous’.
The last contracted GP on the Rosneath Peninsula resigned nine months ago and both practices have had to rely on locums ever since.
But this week an advert appeared in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) seeking ‘general medical practitioner(s)’ to work at Kilcreggan, which has 2,542 registered patients, and Garelochhead, which has 1,847.
Separate contracts are available and applications are welcome for one or both practices.
The advert states: “Applications are invited from registered General Medical Practitioners with remote and rural experience to deliver high-quality primary medical services.
“Kilcreggan, located at the southern tip of the Rosneath peninsula in Argyll and Bute in the West of Scotland, is complemented by Garelochhead town at the northern end of the peninsula.
“Both small communities are recognised for their welcoming hospitality, a strong sense of community, and offer breathtaking views of the River Clyde.
“Inverclyde is conveniently reachable from Kilcreggan via a 13-minute passenger ferry journey and is just an hour and 10-minute drive to Glasgow city centre.”
The advert includes photographs of Gourock, Strone and the Gareloch.
Earlier this month Cllr Fiona Howard demanded an explanation for the delay from the HSCP, saying she had been assured last year that a post would be advertised.
She added: “This is beyond ridiculous and I have asked for an explanation of the delay and what action will be taken to find a new doctor.”
Dr Oliver Corbett announced last August that he was leaving the Kilcreggan Medical Practice, meaning it would be entirely reliant on locum doctors – as is the surgery eight miles away in Garelochhead.
Dr Corbett started in Kilcreggan in May 2021, working 2.5 days a week, and his departure followed that of Dr Donal Murray, who resigned in May 2022, with his post being advertised four months afterwards.
The Kilcreggan and Garelochhead practices are now both run directly by NHS Highland.
The advert is here.