News
Open Letter to Udny Station Patients
Dear Patient.
You will recall I wrote to you in August last year with regards to the reduction in operating hours at our Udny Surgery. I now write to inform you that we have notified the Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership and Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership of our ongoing challenges in being able to continue providing a GP service at Udny Station. We find ourselves in the regrettable situation that we must engage with you on the potential closure of the Udny Station Surgery. We are very conscious of the impact this will have on you and it is not a decision that has been taken lightly.
Why are we considering closure?
- Lack of clinical workforce: we are not alone in our challenge to recruit clinicians, however this is becoming more challenging, negatively impacting our service delivery at Udny and Scotstown.
- Increased operating costs: The rising costs of medications and operational expenses have put a strain on our resources, with the current arrangements becoming financially unsustainable, which has had a negative impact for a number of years.
- Operational challenges: Scotstown and the immediate area population growth has significantly impacted our Scotstown practice, resulting in us now “informally managing” requests for patient registration. This is essentially not allowing new patients, unless a certain criteria applies. This has had a negative impact on the Udny surgery, as we have from time to time been unable to release a clinician from Scotstown to support at Udny.
What does this mean for you?
- You will continue to receive medical care. However, this would be via our main practice at Scotstown Medical Group in Bridge of Don.
- Patients will have the opportunity to register with another GP practice should they reside with the specific area. However, this opportunity will not be available until 12 weeks after the closure of the Udny branch.
- You may also need to change where you collect your prescriptions, or arrange deliveries via local pharmacies. If you currently collect your prescriptions from Udny Station, you will need to make alternative arrangements.
We understand that the proposed change may affect you. We value your opinion and want to hear from you, therefore we would appreciate your input by one of the below options:
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In-Person Meetings – drop in at anytime |
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· Date: Tuesday 25th March 2025 · Time: 1230 – 1430 & 1530 - 1730 · Location: Dr Spence Memorial Hall, Udny Green, Ellon. AB41 7RS · Attended by: Dr Alasdair Forbes (GP Partner) and Peter Reynolds (Group Business Manager) |
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Online (MS Teams) Meetings |
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· Date: Tuesday 25th March 2025 · Time: 1830 - 1930 · Location: Online. Please click on the following link: Join the meeting now |
Members of the Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership and Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership teams will also be in attendance
For more information or for ways to contact us, please:
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Visit our website: |
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Email the below with your message: |
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Telephone the below, leaving your message: 01224 551 199 |
Thank you for being a valued patient of our practice and we appreciate your understanding during this challenging time.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Reynolds
Group Business Manager
Scotstown Medical Group
Q&A
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Can I stay registered with Scotstown Medical Group? Yes, you can, and we hope that you will. Our decision just means that your appointments with a GP or any of our team will be provided at Scotstown Medical Practice. Cairnfold Road, Bridge Of Don, Aberdeen. AB22 8LD We are not changing our practice boundary. All patients living in the community of Udny Station can remain registered with Scotstown Medical Group. |
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What do I need to do now? Please do nothing. You will remain registered with Scotstown Medical Group unless you tell us otherwise. The only thing that is changing is that you will no longer be able to attend appointments at our Udny branch. |
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What will the benefits be to patients? There are benefits to providing our full service from one site and this will give all patients’ access to all our GPs and not just those who previously consulted in Udny. There will be wider access to: nursing services, chronic disease management of conditions such as hypertension, respiratory disease and diabetes as well as access to additional clinics such as those for coils, contraceptive implants and some joint injections. We will be able to invest in one site by reducing our costs associated with running our branch surgery. This will help keep our practice sustainable and reduce the risk of further change that might affect all our patients. |
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What will happen to my medical records? Your records will continue to be held digitally, along with all patient records. |
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How do I contact the practice when I am unwell? Our preferred method of requesting appointments or medical support is by Engage Consultation. Further information can be provided via our website: https://www.scotstownmedicalgroup.co.uk/ Engage Consult allows patients to communicate securely and safely online with their practice about non-emergency medical conditions or admin questions. It also offers 24/7 access to symptom-specific self-help information and easy access to other local NHS and self-care services. Engage Consult is designed to boost patient access, enhance practice efficiencies and to free-up much needed time and resources for clinical and admin teams. The Practice can still be contacted for those without the ability for online or app consultation. Calling the Practice when the Engage Consult service could be used, restricts our ability to help those in need. Tel number: 0345 189 7070 |
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How do I order my prescriptions? Prescriptions can be requested via our website. The prescription telephone request line is also open 24 hours a day. Please leave the following information on our answer machine: your name, address, date of birth, telephone number, the names of the medication you require and where you would like to collect the prescription from e.g. your nominated pharmacy. Telephone 01224 551400 Your nominated community pharmacy may also have a prescription ordering system that you could use, please contact them for further information. |
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Will I have to change my preferred pharmacy? There will be a need to change your local pharmacy for those who utilise Udny Station. Please remember to inform the practice of who your nominated pharmacy will be, should you want prescriptions to be sent directly to them. This will keep our records accurate too. |
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How will I get my results? There is no change to how you get your results. Our results line is open Monday to Friday from 11am to 4pm by telephoning: 0345 189 7070, option 4. |
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Can I still ask for a house call from a GP? Yes, you can, and we are happy to visit patients who are housebound or unable to get to the practice. Please telephone 0345 189 7070, option 3. |
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I prefer to have my appointments over the phone, will this still happen? All requests will be initially triaged by a Clinician, who will decide on the best course of action for you. You can state a preference for telephone consultations. |
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Is there parking at Scotstown Medical Practice? Yes, we have a car park at the front of the surgery and we are on a main bus route. |
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Is there disabled parking at Scotstown Medical Practice? Yes, we have one disabled space in the car park. |
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Is there regular public transport from Udny to Bridge of Don? Bridge of Don is well catered for with public transport links. |
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Translation of this document If you wish this letter to be in other formats or translated into another language, please use google translate: Google Translate |
LMC Statement on GP Workload 18/07/2024
Please see below link regarding the Grampian LMC (Local Medical Committee) statement on GP workload from 18/07/2024:
Brain Health Service Officially Opens!
An innovative new brain health service has been officially opened in Aberdeen today by Maree Todd, MSP, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport.
This is the first example in the UK of a brain health service that offers a drop-in, self-referral system.
The service will be based in the Alzheimer Scotland Brain Health and Dementia Resource Centre on King Street in Aberdeen and will provide people who are worried about their brain health with support and an initial assessment. The service team can then provide a personal brain health plan to support people to take steps to improve their brain health.
The service is for anyone, regardless of age, who might have concerns about their brain health and can drop-in to the Brain Health and Dementia Resource Centre on King Street, Aberdeen.
Open 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday
13-19 King Street
Aberdeen
AB24 5AA
Further information is available here:
https://www.nhsgrampian.org/news/2023/december/ministerial-opening-of-innovative-new-brain-health-service/
https://www.alzscot.org/living-with-dementia/getting-support/find-support-near-you/aberdeen-dementia-resource-centre