Peterhead Doctors Express Grave Concern on Overnight Closure of Minor Injuries Units

A group of doctors in Peterhead have expressed the most serious concerns about the decision by the local Integrated Joint Board to close the town’s Minor Injuries Unit overnight later this year.

Representatives of the local medical community met with Cllr Seamus Logan, an SNP Candidate for Westminster and member of the IJB who spoke out against the cuts. Several GPs and others stated that they were totally opposed to the decision which they said could lead to premature deaths. Other local politicians including MSP Karen Adam have expressed similar concerns.

The GPs stated that they had not been consulted in any way prior to the decision, that it would inevitably create further pressure on their already overstretched general practice and that some people would inevitably decide to go to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) during the night rather than wait on a response from the out of hours services.

They drew attention to what they described as ‘misleading data’ provided in an audit which was presented to the IJB, highlighting a large volume of presentations which were listed as ‘inappropriate’ and which they believed ‘skewed’ the data.

Commenting after the meeting, Cllr Seamus Logan said;

“It is almost beyond belief that these Doctors were not consulted, they are also utterly bewildered as to why there has been no consultation with the Scottish Ambulance service.

“They told me that the local Unit is a ‘minor injuries unit’ in name only and provides a vital service as a walk-in emergency service to the local community. I am convinced that it is not overstating the case to say that this closure could lead to deaths in some instances if patients who attend with serious symptoms are not offered immediate attention by the nurses who work overnight in these Units.

“I have personal experience of the 111 service and am aware of the very high call abandonment rate to that service. It simply isn’t good enough to expect other services to pick up cases previously seen at these Units. These Doctors told me there is no other part of Scotland where two major centres of population (Peterhead and Fraserburgh) are being left without any kind of locally accessible overnight emergency service.”

Councillor Logan also drew attention to proposed changes to out of hours medical cover provided by GMED which he understood could mean that there will be no out of hours doctor based in either Fraserburgh or Peterhead. He also referenced the supporting role that the Units provide to Police Scotland out of hours. He added:

“I worked most of my life in health and social care and the absence of even internal consultation is completely at odds with my experience of how management decisions are taken.

“I’m calling for an immediate suspension of this decision to allow for proper consultation and a review of all the relevant services that are involved. This is essential especially in light of the additional funding provided to Aberdeenshire Council in February by the Scottish Government. This funding is currently being kept in reserve by the Council and it could be deployed to avoid this essential service being cut in this manner.”

Dr Graham Strachan, Medical Director of Peterhead Hospital added:

“The MIU is a "safe haven" for the people of Peterhead, especially the elderly and socially disadvantaged. It provides a much greater role than that described in the IJB document and is staffed by nurses highly skilled in resuscitation and in stabilising seriously unwell patients.

“These sick patients have been omitted from the figures presented to the IJB and on which they have based their decision. We believe that the overnight closure and loss of the GMED service is highly dangerous and will result in excess fatalities.”

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SNP Councillors Raise Concerns on Healthcare 'Asset Stripping'

Following recent decisions regarding overnight closures of the Minor Injuries Units at Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Huntly, it has now also emerged that access to some local GP practices is being reduced.

The Central Buchan Medical Practice was recently taken over by the Ayrshire Medical Group, a private company, and they have announced that the GP service at Strichen is being limited to one day per week with patients being forced to travel to Maud or New Pitsligo to see their GP.

Speaking about this cutback, local councillor Geoff Crowson stated that this was simply not good enough, commenting:

“I know there are difficulties regarding GP recruitment for rural areas but this decision has come as a bolt out of the blue for many people. We knew about the change in management but we had been reassured that this would make little difference to the local service. Now we find that this private company, whose purpose it is to make a profit, have decided that local access to GP consultation it to be restricted.

“While I welcome that negotiations with local Health and Social Care Partnership management has led to a half day being restored, following on from the intended overnight closure of our local Minor Injuries Units, I can’t help but feel our rural communities are being treated inequitably.

“These GP contracts should have minimum service level guarantees for local, often isolated communities. What are our elderly and vulnerable folk to do, especially those without access to a car?”

Councillor Crowson’s concerns were echoed by Councillor Seamus Logan who is a member of the Integrated Joint Board (IJB), the body which oversees the work of the Health and Social Care Partnership. He said:

“This is the second service reduction that I have become aware of involving this particular company, the other is in Aberchirder where patients must now travel to Portsoy following a reduction in opening hours in the town.

“We are witnessing the creeping privatisation of our NHS where profit comes before patients. These are local decisions which need to be scrutinised and I intend to raise these issues at the earliest opportunity within the IJB to see if there are any steps we can take to ensure that our GP services are protected against this type of approach.

“Looking at the wider picture, our NHS services are being deliberately starved of resources by the UK Treasury while they favour tax cuts instead of decent public services.”

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UK Govt Needs to do the Right Thing by WASPI Campaigners - Logan

SNP Westminster candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East Seamus Logan has welcomed today’s findings by the Parliamentary Ombudsman in respect of the Women’s State Pension Age investigation and said the UK Government needs to do the right thing and compensate the women affected by its maladministration.

The UK Government have refused to compensate the women affected and the Ombudsman even goes so far to state that the “DWP has clearly indicated that it will refuse to comply” with the report’s findings, a move branded by Mr Logan as “outrageously disrespectful” to the women.

Commenting, Seamus Logan said:

“The WASPI women have waited a long time for the publication of this report and it is a complete vindication of their campaign for justice.

“The Ombudsman has found maladministration and says there is an injustice which needs to be put right and compensation paid out.

“It is therefore outrageously disrespectful to the campaigners who have waited so long for this report for the Conservative UK Government through its Department for Work and Pensions to say it will refuse to comply with the report’s findings.

“Let’s be clear about this: the report leaves the UK Government without a leg to stand on and they should do the right thing by the campaigners and set out how and when they will be compensated. Nothing less will do.”

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Peterhead Councillors React to Minor Injuries Unit Decision

Peterhead SNP councillors Leeann McWhinnie (Peterhead North and Rattray) and Stephen Smith (Peterhead South and Cruden) have condemned the decision made on a vote today (Wednesday) to close the town’s Minor Injuries Unit overnight.

SNP members of Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership Integration Joint Board (IJB) voted against proposals to close Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Huntly’s Minor Injuries Units overnight as part of a series of budget proposals.

Commenting, Cllr Stephen Smith said:

“This is a deeply disappointing decision which didn’t need to be taken. I made my views known to my colleagues on the Board who put forward a proposal to keep the Minor Injuries Units as they are.

“Conservative and Lib Dem councillors voted to withdraw the evening and overnight service and this is a backward step. The largest town in Aberdeenshire deserves better.”

Cllr Leeann McWhinnie added:

“While accepting this is a Minor Injuries Unit and not an Accident and Emergency service, this decision will inevitably lead to more people attending ARI and increasing pressure on the hospital there. We should be looking to expand provision in Peterhead or at least maintain it, not reduce services.”

Commenting after the meeting, Integration Joint Board member Cllr Seamus Logan (SNP-Fraserburgh and District) said:

“The Board’s decision today to close overnight three Minor Injuries Units at Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Huntly is extremely disappointing and is a blow to these communities.

“These services are being used appropriately by significant numbers of people every week. I also pointed out during the meeting that this move will load further pressure on services at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Emergency Department not to mention the Scottish Ambulance Service.

“Our service users were given insufficient time to digest these proposals and to assert their rights under legislation to have their voice heard today as these cuts were only made public last week.

“A number of other proposals gave me cause for concern, in particular the possibility of a further review of our vital local hospital provision. We need to be thinking more strategically, investing in these services, extending their reach so we prevent admissions through early intervention by delivering more care in people’s homes. In other words, we need more transformative change so that our NHS is developed securely as it moves towards its centenary rather than short term measures focused on the annual race to save money.”

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SNP Councillors Oppose Cuts to North-East Minor Injuries Units

SNP members of Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership Integration Joint Board (IJB) today (Wednesday) voted against proposals to close the area’s Minor Injuries Units overnight as part of a series of budget proposals.

IJB members were asked to approve cuts to services totalling more than £8,400,000. These proposals were part of an overall package of measures worth around £20,000,000 to balance the Board’s books for the financial year 2024/25.

Commenting after the meeting, Integration Joint Board member Cllr Seamus Logan (SNP-Fraserburgh and District) said:

“The Board’s decision today to close overnight three Minor Injuries Units at Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Huntly is extremely disappointing and is a blow to these communities.

“These these services are being used appropriately by significant numbers of people every week. I also pointed out during the meeting that this move will load further pressure on services at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Emergency Department not to mention the Scottish Ambulance Service.

“Our service users were given insufficient time to digest these proposals and to assert their rights under legislation to have their voice heard today as these cuts were only made public last week.

“A number of other proposals gave me cause for concern, in particular the possibility of a further review of our vital local hospital provision. We need to be thinking more strategically, investing in these services, extending their reach so we prevent admissions through early intervention by delivering more care in people’s homes. In other words, we need more transformative change so that our NHS is developed securely as it moves towards its centenary rather than short term measures focused on the annual race to save money.”

IJB member Cllr Moray Grant (SNP-West Garioch) added:

“The pressures on services due to our ageing population, the complexity of needs and other factors are immense. For example, GP prescribing costs are growing at such a rate that it’s outstripping our ability to fund it.

“Continuing funding cuts from the UK Treasury to the Scottish Government will force financial settlements that will lead to an even deeper financial crisis in the years immediately ahead.”

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Westminster Candidate Seamus Logan Criticises Lloyds' Decision

SNP Westminster candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East Seamus Logan has condemned the decision by Lloyds Banking Group to close yet more Bank of Scotland branches across the North-east.

Lloyds Banking Group has announced the decision to close the Bank of Scotland branches in Banff and Buckie on 30th July and 1st August.

This comes on top of the removal of the two weekly banking vans across the constituency in places such as Keith, Cullen, Portsoy, New Pitsligo and nearby Turriff.

This decision has been taken despite Lloyds Banking Group posting profits of £5.5 Billion in 2023.

Footfall is cited as the reason for closures but Logan refused to accept this explanation.

Commenting, he said;

"Footfall is a very short-sighted view of loyal, local customers. Customer loyalty is also an important measure but this has been completely overlooked.

"Members of our more remote communities with complex care needs or others less technically competent particularly rely on the provision of traditional banking services locally.

“Poor public transport links are making things much worse as many will now have no local bank presence whatsoever and will find it difficult to travel to another Branch. It's a disgrace that the greed of bankers is more important than the communities that generated the profits for them.

“If Lloyds and others bank chief executives’ multi million-pound bonuses were reinvested in locally accessible services I would have more respect for them."

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Fraserburgh Councillor Seamus Logan Reflects Local Anger on Council Budget Cuts

Budget cuts made by Conservative-led administration on Aberdeenshire Council at its meeting last Thursday will include the loss of school patrollers in Fraserburgh and the shelving of progress towards development of a new primary school for the town.

Other front-line services affected included special needs provision for children experiencing speech and language difficulties.

Commenting on these decisions, local SNP councillor Seamus Logan said he had been made aware of substantial local anger:

“Local residents have been expressing dismay to me and on social media about the effects of these decisions. In relation to the school patrol service, it’s not that long ago that a child was hit by a car here in Fraserburgh and narrowly escaped serious injury and folk just cannot understand the thinking behind this.”

Cllr Logan stated that the SNP-led opposition group had argued against this and also asked for a small amount to be included in the capital plan for the proposed new primary school in Fraserburgh, replacing St Andrews and the North School.

This would have meant that local people would see the Council’s continuing commitment to the plans for the new primary school but these alternative proposals were rejected by Independent, Conservative and Lib Dem councillors in the administration group.

“I understand that difficult decisions needed to be made but the Council still has substantial reserves which could have been deployed to avoid some of these cuts.”

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Logan Formally Adopted as Aberdeenshire North and Moray East Candidate

SNP Westminster candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East Cllr Seamus Logan has been formally adopted by the local SNP members as their candidate for the next UK General Election.

Seamus has been campaigning across the constituency since being selected last year but the political tradition of holding an 'Adoption Meeting' in this election year was continued last Friday at a well-attended event in the Station Hotel, Portsoy.

Aberdeen South MP and Leader of the SNP Westminster Group Stephen Flynn spoke at the event as did former Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson and Seamus Logan’s candidacy was unanimously approved by all present.

Speaking in Portsoy on Friday night, Seamus Logan said:

"I'm honoured to be the SNP candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East. The SNP's priority right now is protecting people from the worst effects of the current cost of living crisis, ensuring we have a controlled and just transition as the renewables industrial revolution gathers pace, offering an alternative and more energetic approach to the needs of our farmers and fishers; and protecting our vital public services, particularly the NHS.

“At the next General Election in this constituency the realistic choice will be between the Conservatives or the SNP. People here understand that we in the North-east can play our part in bringing an end to this incompetent, corrupt and heartless Tory Government by voting for the SNP.”

Former Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson said:

"In Seamus Logan, people can be sure that we will have an energetic and strong local voice to stand up for our vital interests. I am delighted that Seamus will be leading the campaign in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East for the SNP at the next UK election, whenever the election is called.

“I know that Seamus will work hard to earn the trust of voters in this constituency and build on the proud record of service provided to constituents by their SNP representatives at all levels – councillors, MSPs and MPs."

Westminster SNP Group leader Stephen Flynn MP added:

"People in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East have an SNP candidate in Seamus Logan that will bring a lifetime of public service in health and social care, as well as a strong record of standing up for constituents as a local councillor.

"Westminster's dire economic policies are failing communities right across Scotland who, through no fault of their own, are being forced to reckon with the soaring cost of living.

"And with Labour shamelessly tied to the Tory policies causing so much harm to Scottish households, it's abundantly clear they offer no real alternative.

"Seamus Logan joins a strong team of SNP candidates who will stand up for Scotland's values at Westminster while opposing the grim status quo and I look forward to working with him in the months ahead to bring that strong message to voters across Scotland."

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Logan Writes to UK Chancellor Calling for end to £50 million Charity Cap

Fraserburgh councillor and SNP candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East Seamus Logan has written to Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt calling for an end to the £50 million cap on annual charity lottery sales.

The cap significantly impacts the ability of lotteries to increase the amount of funding they can provide to charities – meaning third-sector organisations miss out on millions of pounds worth of support.

The demand for funding from charities has significantly increased amid the Westminster cost of living crisis and the aftermath of the pandemic.

Charity lotteries are the only form of gambling product subject to annual caps on sales – placing an unnecessary ceiling on the amount raised for good causes.

Seamus Logan is backing the People’s Postcode Lottery campaign and called on the UK Government to remove the £50 million sales limit on charity lotteries as a matter of urgency to ensure charities across the country are not missing out on vital funding.

Commenting, Seamus Logan said:

“Due to high inflation and the cost-of-living crisis we are experiencing, the cap is effectively a funding cut for these charities. £50 million today represents a 17.4% decrease in real terms from when the cap was set at that figure in 2020.

“The cap will continue to erode the value of the £50 million every year unless it is lifted or - better still - abolished.

“Over the next five years, 100 charities backed by the People’s Postcode Lottery are set to lose out on over £175 million in extra funding due to the lottery cap.

“It’s disgraceful and astonishing that good causes providing services to some of society’s most vulnerable people will lose out on essential funding due to an outdated and nonsensical regulation and I have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer voicing those concerns.

“The UK Government has a real chance to make a difference to charities by removing the charity lottery annual sales limit, and it should act now”.

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