Wick's Riverview joins forces with Thurso and Lybster medical practices
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Wick's Riverview medical practice is joining forces with others in Thurso and Lybster in a move that NHS Highland says will benefit patients and staff.
Following the merger of GP practices at Riverbank (Thurso) and Lybster last year, the health board is supporting Riverview to integrate into a unified team that will be known as the Three Harbours Medical Group.
The arrangement will bring benefits to patients and staff thanks to closer working relationships between the practice teams, according to NHS Highland.
Jill Mitchell, head of primary care, said: “I would like to offer reassurance that the practice will remain open with opening times remaining the same.
“This integration offers a number of opportunities and by creating a larger primary healthcare team it will help primary care to be more resilient and sustainable.
"There will be the ability to share workload across the three sites, improving access and service provision. Creating an environment for education, training and development is important to attract and retain staff.
"GP recruitment is also challenging at the moment and the integration of these practices will allow us to develop career portfolios attracting GPs to Caithness.”
The health board says it is hoped that by working more closely together "the service will be more sustainable and, with shared systems, patients will see an improvement with access and patient choice".
It points out that staff will be working in a larger multidisciplinary team and this "will assist with the ongoing recruitment and retention of key posts in primary care, creating opportunities for training, development and career progression".
The name Three Harbours Medical Group was chosen to reflect the coastal nature and history of the Wick, Thurso and Lybster communities.
Practice management and the local primary care manager have contacted staff and have been available to answer any questions. Patients are also being given an opportunity to respond via NHS Highland's feedback team by emailing nhshighland.feedback@nhs.scot
