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Patients in Scotland asked to rate the performance of a closed practice

Former patients of a practice in Perthshire were sent letter questionnaires to rate the performance of a surgery which closed down months ago.

As part of the Scottish Government’s biannual Health and Social Care Experience Survey 2019/20, questionnaires were sent out to all patients in Scotland, asking them to rate their GP surgery experience.

But patients in the village of Bridge of Earn, Perthshire expressed concerns given all the questions related to current experiences of their GP surgery, which shut its doors earlier this summer.

According to the Daily Record, former patients took to social media, saying it ‘clearly outlines the problem’ with the NHS and communication.

Former patient Jackie Purdie said: ‘I have just received a questionnaire from the NHS asking me to take part in a survey about my health and care experience at, guess what, Bridge of Earn Medical Centre.

‘The questions all relate to what is currently happening at the surgery, which of course as we all know is nil as it no longer exists.

‘It clearly outlines the problems that the NHS has with communication.’

However, the Government said the questionnaire was taken from patient information logged from 20 August.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: ‘The Health and Social Care Experience Survey sample was based on patient information as of 20 August and asks about patients’ experiences of general practice, care and support provided by local authorities and other organisations, and caring responsibilities over the last 12 months.

‘Although the Bridge of Earn surgery is closed, these patients’ views are still important and help build a picture of patient experience at national and health board level.’

Bridge of Earn previously had around 3,500 patients, all of whom were redistributed to surrounding surgeries in Perth after its closure in August.

The two GP partners at the practice handed back its contract earlier this year and NHS Tayside closed the surgery on 30 August.

The Government has run the survey every two years since 2009 and will publish the latest results in April 2020.

In April, the GMC proposed that GPs will be required to collect annual patient feedback instead of every five years.