Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Patients of the practice were written to by the health authorities advising that the centre would close temporarily from Monday 31 August as a result of a reduction in GP cover.
Commenting after the meeting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:
“This was a very positive discussion and the NHS was at some pains to provide reassurance that the closure is indeed temporary and they plan to re-open it as soon as possible. That is an important commitment to get on the record.
“Clearly, transport to and from the medical practice at Banff in the meantime is a major issue and the efforts of volunteer drivers in the community are to be commended and show local resilience at this difficult time. In addition, it is hoped that prescriptions can be distributed from the dispensary from this week.
“I was pleased to be able to secure an early meeting with health officials on this important matter and to invite local councillor Ross Cassie along to the discussions and will continue discussions with the health authorities.”
“Clearly, transport to and from the medical practice at Banff in the meantime is a major issue and the efforts of volunteer drivers in the community are to be commended and show local resilience at this difficult time. In addition, it is hoped that prescriptions can be distributed from the dispensary from this week.
“I was pleased to be able to secure an early meeting with health officials on this important matter and to invite local councillor Ross Cassie along to the discussions and will continue discussions with the health authorities.”
Local MP Eilidh Whiteford added:
“For Gardenstown, the important message from Friday’s meeting is that the NHS have underlined their intention to have the Gamrie Practice operating again as soon as possible.
“We also discussed wider measures to improve the resilience of rural GP practices because, unfortunately, Gardenstown is not the only community affected in this way.
“More doctors need to be attracted to working in the rural North of Scotland and we heard how NHS Grampian is working with the Scottish Government, who have committed significant funding to tackle this issue.
“I will remain in close contact with the NHS on this issue along with Stewart Stevenson and I hope that we will see a GP service restored to Gardenstown before too long.”
“We also discussed wider measures to improve the resilience of rural GP practices because, unfortunately, Gardenstown is not the only community affected in this way.
“More doctors need to be attracted to working in the rural North of Scotland and we heard how NHS Grampian is working with the Scottish Government, who have committed significant funding to tackle this issue.
“I will remain in close contact with the NHS on this issue along with Stewart Stevenson and I hope that we will see a GP service restored to Gardenstown before too long.”
