TWO familiar faces will be taking over the running of Lockerbie Medical Practice from June.
Dr Kashif Ahmad and Dr Michael Ramsden are already serving as locums there, but have now been awarded the contract to deliver GP and medical services for the surgery.
It follows the decision by current provider, Alba Medical Group, to end their contract with effect from May 31.
The new doctor duo say they are keen to build on the work they have already been undertaking in Lockerbie, and to create a sustainable practice providing quality care.
However, they caution this will take time, and that the national contract for GP services means moving to a multi-disciplinary team approach, where patients are served by a range of health professionals.
Dr Ramsden yesterday said: “We are looking forward to developing a practice which can provide quality care for the people of Lockerbie and surrounding areas.
“We realise they have been through a turbulent time over the past number of years and
faced a lot of uncertainty. Particularly, we want to improve patient access, increase face-to-face contact, and restore care for those with long-term health problems.
“However, we hope people will understand it will take time to realise our ambition, that things won’t change overnight, and that the health service still remains under strain.
“We are dedicated to the multi-disciplinary approach already undertaken at the surgery and encouraged by the current GP contract in Scotland, which means you will see different types of clinician depending on your problem, and see this as essential to survival of the surgery when demand is only increasing and recruitment and retention of GPs is difficult.”
Commenting on the successful bid, the region’s deputy medical director, Dr Grecy Bell, said: “NHS Dumfries and Galloway welcomes the outcome of a process aimed at securing an independent contractor to deliver general medical services out of Lockerbie.
“This now places Lockerbie Medical Practice in line with the majority of other GP practices within the region.
“A scoring panel was formed which included representatives from the local community, and Drs Ahmad and Ramsden impressed the panel with their obvious desire to serve the area and build a successful model for provision of local healthcare.”
- Dr Ramsden is pictured with the surgery team
