Perth housebuilding putting GP services under pressure

The pace of house-building to the west of Perth is piling pressure on GP services in the area.

Health bosses say primary care is feeling the impact of population growth associated with housing developments across Perth city, Almond Valley, Huntingtower and elsewhere.

And they say they’re working with Perth and Kinross Council to ensure community’s health needs are reflected in planning decisions.

Hundreds of new houses have gone up on the edge of Perth in recent years. And many more are in the pipeline.

The Almond Valley masterplan could bring 1,500 new homes to the north-west of the city.

A similar number is proposed in the Perth West masterplan, approved by councillors in April.

The pressures emerged in a briefing to the Perth and Kinross Integration Joint Board on Tuesday.

Dr Sal Peterson, clinical lead for primary care for the Perth and Kinross health and Social Care Partnership, said local GP practices were grappling with the challenges of demographic change, and in particular a “huge increase in elderly patients”.

“The population growth is occurring in very specific areas, particularly around Perth city and the western edge of Perth,” she said.

“This places additional pressure on local primary care infrastructure and means premises planning must be closely linked to housing and development plans.”

Perth and Kinross GP practices see numbers rise and fall

Dr Peterson’s report detailed changing patient numbers at the 23 GP practices across Perth and Kinross.

The biggest increase (3.7%) has been at the Orwell practice in Kinross, where numbers have risen from 4,942 to 5,123.

It’s one of 13 practices where patient numbers have gone up.

The Lade medical practice in Perth has seen a 2.3% increase from 3,972 to 4,063.

Another Perth practice, the Taymount surgery, recorded a 1.5% increase from 16.688 to 16,931.

The Red practice in Crieff also saw patient numbers rise by 1.5% from 4,019 to 4,078.

The biggest decrease occurred at the yellow practice at the Drumhar health centre in Perth, where patient numbers have fallen by 3.8% from 6,757 to 6,498.

Health bosses hail success of Carse surgery handover

Dr Peterson said the partnership’s “biggest achievement” in recent months had been the successful transfer of  medical services at the Carse medical practice to Deuchar Williams Health last September.

Locals campaigned to save their surgery after the previous GPs retired.

A six-month evaluation of the handover found there had been “continued care, stable patient numbers, and no reported service disruptions, complaints or patient safety concerns”.

Dr Peterson’s report said health bosses are working with the practice to find suitable permanent premises.

It is still operating out of portable cabin in a field near Errol, where it’s been based since 2020.

The board also heard the Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership is facing a £1.258 million overspend.

And chief officer Zoe Robertson addressed members on what NHS reform might mean for Perth and Kinross.

First Minister John Swinney wants to reduce Scotland’s 14 health boards to two.

Under the plans, NHS Tayside and Fife would become part of an eastern group, joining the Grampian area, Lothian and Borders.

Ms Robertson said any shift would have to reflect the Perth and Kinross area’s rural communities, transport barriers, workforce availability and distinct identity.