Community's concerns after GPs stop taking new patients

Andy Cooper said infrastructure was not keeping up with new housebuilding

Two Inverness GP practices have suspended taking new patients, saying they have been overwhelmed by new housebuilding in their area.

NHS Highland said Culloden Medical Practice and Culloden Surgery would not be registering new patients for the period of a year from Thursday.

The health board said the practices had been raising concerns for a number of years about their increasing number of patients "accelerated by the high volume of new homes being built in the area".

Highland Council, the local planning authority, said a new site had been purchased and was available to the NHS.

Linda James said the situation would be worrying for some residents

Culloden is a large suburb of Inverness with a population of 3,830, according to National Records Scotland.

Local residents said they were concerned the practices had been forced to take action.

Andy Cooper believed it was getting harder to get an appointment.

He said: "It was never great but in the last few years since Covid it has been very difficult to get a doctors or nurses appointment.

"It can take three weeks."

Mr Cooper said infrastructure had not caught up with the rate of housebuilding.

Ruth Robertson said other services were also under pressure

Linda James said she was lucky to be registered with a local surgery.

But she said the situation was worrying for new residents and added: "I can see it being a problem for some."

Another local resident, Ruth Robertson, said: "When they build all the houses they don't provide any extra infrastructure - doctors, dentists, roads and schools.

"They are all chock-a-block."

NHS Highland said it has had discussions with the practices about expanding the size of their premises, but the work could not be progressed due to a pause of capital spending across NHS Scotland.

Head of primary care Jill Mitchell said: "This has been a difficult decision for both practices, who play a vital role at the heart of their local community.

"However, both practices have seen their list size continue to increase over the years, and the lack of funding to explore increasing the size of the building has led to this decision being made to ensure they can continue to deliver high quality patient-centred care to their registered patients."

Local people who are not registered with either practice and need access to GP services have been advised to check NHS Highland's website of other practices open to new registrations.

The website also has details of how to request registration support.

Ms Mitchell added: "We recognise this is a difficult situation and we are committed to working closely with the practices to identify solutions which best meet their needs and the needs of the local community."

A Highland Council spokesperson said: "While we note that there is a pause of capital spending across NHS Scotland - a site has been purchased and is available to the NHS as part of the wider school and housing site at Barn Church Road.

"It would be for the NHS to bring forward the scheme itself."