GP surgery shut down after repeated failings by doctor

A GP surgery has been closed by a health authority after a series of investigations into the actions of the only doctor at the practice.

NHS Tayside has made emergency measures for the 1,700 patients at the Dundee surgery following the unprecedented announcement that the practice's contract has been terminated.

The only GP at the Ardler Surgery, Dr Charles Miller, was given an official warning two years ago by the medical profession's watchdog the General Medical Council after he failed to adequately record the details of a patient's prescription for the heroin substitute methadone.

Dr Miller, who has been a doctor since 1984, was warned then that his actions risked "bringing the profession into disrepute and must not be repeated".

But it has now been revealed that the health watchdog imposed another set of conditions on Dr Miller last month, including a ban on him prescribing certain drugs and on signing any repeat prescriptions.

The GMC also ordered him to confine his medical practice to the Ardler Surgery and stipulated that another fully registered and licensed practitioner had to be on the premises whenever he was working at the Dundee practice.

NHS Tayside announced that the surgery would close at 6pm next Monday after a decision to terminate the contract for the provision of GP services at the Ardler Surgery in the city's Turnberry Avenue.

A spokeswoman for NHS Tayside said the decision was unprecedented.

She said: "This significant decision to terminate has been taken because the single-handed GP practice has not met all the conditions and delivered the level of service which it was required to provide under the General Medical Services contract."

She stressed: "The main priority for NHS Tayside now is to ensure the 1,700 patients who are registered at Ardler Surgery have continued access to a GP.

"Patients have already been sent a letter detailing the arrangements which have been put in place to make sure they can see a doctor if they need to and a freephone number has been set up for those patients who have questions or may need further advice."

Dr Michelle Watts, the associate medical director for primary care at NHS Tayside, described the situation as "very unfortunate but unavoidable".

She said: "Patients should be assured that we are doing every-thing we can to minimise any disruption to patients and their care.

"To give people time to register with another GP, we have already set up a temporary GP practice only for Ardler patients at Wallacetown Health Centre. The surgery at Wallacetown is now open and will stay open for a period of up to eight weeks."

Joe Fitzpatrick, the SNP MSP for Dundee West, said the surgery closure was a "significant blow" to the people of Ardler.He added: "I am in the process of seeking assurances from NHS Tayside that the disruption to patients registered here will be minimised.

"Looking to the longer term I will work with NHS Tayside to retain a local medical service at the heart of this community. Specifically, I will be asking the board to examine the possibility of a salaried GP."

Jenny Marra, the North-east Labour MSP, said: "Local GP services are vital in communities, especially in regeneration areas. I have written to the SNP health secretary to ask if she is satisfied with the situation, and am requesting she urgently address the need for a doctor by making both temporary and permanent plans for Ardler."

Dr Miller could not be contacted for comment.