A north-east medical practice is one step closer to permanently shutting its doors following an “extremely useful” public drop-in session.
Nearly 300 people attended a public meeting at Mintlaw Public Hall to hear from GPs and senior NHS Grampian officials about the future of the local group practice.
The event was the first formal step in the closure of the Stuartfield branch of the practice at Crichie Surgery.
Last night, a spokeswoman for the north-east health board said: “The public drop-in session was extremely useful and well attended – we estimate between 200 and 300 people came along.
“GPs and senior managers from NHS Grampian were available for more detailed discussions and a number of patients took up that option.”
She said that the practice team will respond to any outstanding questions about the closure directly to those who asked them.
The spokeswoman added: “With regards to the Stuartfield branch surgery, this drop-in was only the first step in the formal closure process. There will be more public engagement around this in the weeks and months to come.”
Concerns were raised about the future of Mintlaw Group Practice earlier this year when a formal notice was posted in the window of the surgery.
Services at the Stuartfield clinic have already been suspended and it is understood the site is no longer fit for purpose.
Mintlaw councillor Jim Ingram said there were mixed feelings in the Buchan area about the proposed closure of the branch.
“I daresay that local opinion is mixed. Elderly people are more concerned than the young due to transport issues,” he said.
“It means going to either Mintlaw or Maud. Maud’s more difficult because there’s not much public transport, but there’s a reasonable bus service to Mintlaw.”
The councillor also said he was impressed by the public consultation last week, and that so many people were engaging with the process.
He added: “The building was nearing the end of its life. Times move on and times change I’m afraid.”