Save Our Surgeries campaign group 'disappointed' after being unable to meet with Moray Coast Medical Practice over Burghead and Hopeman GP closures
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THE Save Our Surgeries campaign have expressed their disappointment after being unable to meet with Moray Coast Medical Practice.
The group have been campaigning to save the GP surgeries in Hopeman and Burghead and had hoped to meet with the practice following the official closure of the two surgeries in January.
A spokesperson for the Save Our Surgeries Group said: "This reply has both shocked and disappointed the members of the Save Our Surgeries Group, a meeting with the surgery representatives had been requested by our group along with our MSP and MP.
"The survey initiated by Moray Health and Social Care Partnership indicated that 85 percent of respondents were against the closures, but there has never been a discussion with the surgery as to why this has not been taken into account.
"We have other ideas about solutions however we are unable to discuss these as we have faced a blank wall in trying to converse with the Moray Coast Medical Practice."
Amongst the groups concerns is the difficulties patients will have to get to in-person appointments in Lossiemouth, as there is currently no bus service between the coastal villages.
The group have also suggested repairing one of the two buildings to keep just one of the GP surgeries open for the residents of the villages. They added: "Should Hopeman and Burghead surgeries close, this would be an additional blow to our growing, but already savaged communities.
"We will continue in our campaign to bring NHS Grampian to account. A further public meeting will be held in the Burghead Free Church Hall this Thursday March 23 at 7pm."
A spokesperson for NHS Grampian said: "Moray Coast Practice have spent time with the community throughout the public engagement and public consultation process and the case was taken to Moray IJB. The practice continues to engage fully with the locality planning process and service provision across Lossiemouth/Forres."