Locals slam "absolutely terrible" Musselburgh GP practice

A petition has been created by locals.

Nearly 600 people have signed an online petition calling for easier access to the surgery.

“It is never easy to get through to get an appointment and when you do you cannot get to speak to a doctor,” wrote Michelle Corbett, who created the petition.

“Reception staff are friendly and great but they are vetting who you can get a conversation with.

“It needs resolving especially with more houses getting built.”

Dougie Williams, 64, called the situation “absolutely terrible”.

“They just don’t answer the phone, and you can’t go to the door and try and make an appointment either, the door is locked because of Covid,” he told the Evening News.

“I’m concerned there may be some older people who have conditions who are being ignored.”

Mr Williams said the issue is “definitely not a Covid problem” as it had begun “way before” the pandemic broke out.

“The other thing that worries me is that East Lothian council is throwing in thousands of houses in the area, and if the surgery can’t cope at the moment then I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he added.

Kirsty Jack, who signed the petition, added a note to say “it's a shocking way to run a practice.

“Have to continually try to get through which is a nightmare if you work the hours the practice is open.”

“I have tried to phone multiple times with no answer for weeks! I find this very unacceptable and unprofessional,” added Scott Marshall.

Many locals have also taken to social media to complain about the centre.

“I have spent a whole day trying to get through to this practice on behalf of my elderly mother [...] continually told it’s busy. Covid or not it’s absolutely shocking that you cannot speak to anyone,” wrote Kim Hunter on Facebook.

Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, said: “I have received an overwhelming number of constituents who have contacted me to complain about Riverside Medical Practice and it seems to me that the situation really has come to a head,” he said.

“A solution needs to be urgently sought by the practice, and I hope that they can work with myself and NHS Lothian to ensure that residents in Musselburgh have access to the healthcare that they need.”

A spokesperson for the Riverside Medical Practice said: “We are very aware that our patients have experienced particular difficulties or delays getting through to the practice by telephone at this time. We are experiencing unprecedented high levels of calls.”

They added: "Our practice staff are working additional hours to try and try to ease the situation for our patients. We have also for the past months escalated the significant level of feedback and concerns to the ElHSCP so as to ensure they are fully aware of the situation and work closely with us to support this community.”

"Alison MacDonald, Chief Officer ELHSCP said: “ELHSCP has and will continue to support the Riverside Medical Practice to address the concerns of their patients during this exceptionally busy time."

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