The Scottish Government’s decision to delay funding for a new GP surgery in West Fife means it could be 15 or 20 years after a replacement was promised before it is delivered.
In a briefing shared via social media by Fife Health & Social Care Partnership, the community in Kincardine were advised that the Scottish Government has confirmed that “…funding is unlikely to be released…within the initially anticipated timescales… As a result resources will likely be provided in the second half of the decade.”
Cllr. Graeme Downie, Scottish Labour Councillor for West Fife & Coastal Villages, has written to Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing, Humza Yousaf MSP, asking him to visit Kincardine and explain the decision to the local community.
Commenting, Cllr. Downie said:
“I will be speaking to people in the local community about how this decision will impact them.”
“Kincardine has an SNP MP and an SNP MSP and I hope they will join me and the community in a campaign to reverse this decision by the Scottish Government and get Kincardine the GP surgery it was promised.”
Cllr. David Graham (Lab, Buckhaven, Methil and Wemyss villages), Fife Labour Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, said:
“The SNP have been failing health services across Fife. You see it in A&E, ambulances and in waiting times across medical disciplines. That has to be addressed and promises must be kept. Only the Labour Party is interested in delivering the change Fife needs.”
Letter to Humza Yousaf MSP
“Dear Humza
I am sorry to interrupt your full-time job of running to be First Minister but some of the constituents in my Ward in West Fife think you should be concentrating on turning round the poor state of the health services in their area instead.
It seems an announcement was snuck out last week which means the village of Kincardine in West Fife will now not be receiving the new GP surgery it was promised 10 years ago. I know delivery has been a challenge for the SNP in government on issues from policing to roads and infrastructure to health and that excuses have been similarly varied. However, this further delay is unacceptable, will risk the health of people in my Ward and deny an ambitious village the services it needs to thrive.
The briefing provided points to the Scottish Government taking a “phased approach to the funding of capital projects” and that “resources will likely be provided in the second half of the decade.”
Presumably even after these resources are provided, it will still take time for procurement, construction and staffing, meaning it will be at least 15 years, possibly as long as 20 years, since the people in my Ward were promised a new GP surgery.
In whatever role you might hold in the next few weeks, can I ask that you come to Kincardine and explain to the people in my Ward exactly how the Scottish Government have managed to fail them quite so badly.
Yours sincerely,”