CONCERNS over the future of one GP office in the Wee County will be discussed at a public meeting in Alloa this month.

Officials from NHS Forth Valley will outline its progress in assuming responsibility for Dr Stirling & Partners Medical Practice, based at the Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre in Sauchie.

Last month, the Advertiser revealed the health board would have to intervene in order to maintain services after four out of five of the GPs confirmed they plan to leave or retire over the next few months.

The Wee County has endured severe difficulties in recruiting GPs over the last few years, with the situation becoming critical for Dr Stirling & Partners.

However, in an effort to assuage public fears, and to answer any questions raised by the public, the health board will attend a meeting with Alloa Community Council on Tuesday, March 27.

An NHS Forth Valley spokesperson said: "A number of senior staff from NHS Forth Valley plan to attend the meeting including Dr Stuart Cumming, a GP and NHS Forth Valley’s associate medical director for primary care services and our medical director Andrew Murray.

"They will give a brief presentation on GP and primary care developments across Forth Valley and give an update on how work to prepare for taking over the management of the practice from May 1, 2018, is progressing.

"They will also give an update on work to recruit staff for the practice, outline plans to develop a multidisciplinary team and give examples of how this is working in other GP practices within Forth Valley, including Bannockburn."

Anyone who would like to question the health board representatives are asked to submit questions in advance of the meeting.

Jennie Syme, chair of the community council, said: "The aim is to give an update on how the health board’s plans to prepare for taking over the management of Dr Stirling's practice are progressing, provide more information on the new multidisciplinary workforce it hopes to develop and address any concerns about future access to local GP and primary care services.

"The communication we have had from NHS Forth Valley has been very informative and Alloa Community Council will keep the community updated of any further information we receive via our social media.

"Please do come along to the meeting to find out more for yourself."

As reported by the Advertiser last month, NHS Forth Valley plans to advertise the practice as being "vacant" to enable an interested group of GPs to form a new partnership to take over the running of the practice.

At the time, Dr Cumming said: "The current situation reflects significant recruitment problems being experienced by GP practices across Scotland and our immediate priority is to ensure the practice remains open and continues to provide services to local people.

"Work is therefore underway to look at ways of best ensuring ongoing access to GP and primary services.

Questions for the NHS officials should be emailed to contact.alloacommunitycouncil@gmail.com before the meeting date.