Health minister to investigate claims out-ofhours service being set up to fail.

Campaigners feel proposals are being watered down

Health minister Jeane Freeman has pledged to investigate claims the GP outof-hours service in St Andrews is being set up to fail.

Ms Freeman said she would be very disappointed if the campaigned-for solution to reinstate the service was now in jeopardy and promised to look at it “with some urgency”.

The minister’s comments follow concerns from community councils that Fife Health and Social Care Partnership is dangerously watering down its proposals for the new out-of-hours centre.

While the partnership has insisted the model would be safe and sustainable, campaigners claim nurses would be working extended periods with no

“I will certainly look at this with some urgency.

HEALTH SECRETARY JEANE FREEMAN

GP support on site and the unit would close two hours earlier than agreed on Saturdays.

North East Fife Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie raised the concerns with Ms Freeman in the Scottish Parliament this week.

Responding, the minister said: “I would be very disappointed indeed if what seemed to me a genuine community-devised and communityled solution in terms of out-of-hours services in St Andrews was in any sense in jeopardy because relationships had broken down or for any other reason.

“I will certainly look at this with some urgency.”

Mr Rennie said: “The relationship between the partnership and the local campaigning group seems to have broken down. They fear the partnership is setting it up to fail. I’m therefore pleased to hear the health secretary will look into these issues”

The partnership’s interim director Nicky Connor said implementation was being undertaken with full involvement of staff and union representatives to ensure the model was sustainable.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman.