PATIENTS at a Dunfermline GP practice could be left waiting until the new year to see a doctor for non-urgent care.

A recorded message for patients left by Nethertown Surgery on Elliot Street says that only emergency appointments will be available and that online services will be turned off.

When calling the surgery earlier in the week, patients were played the following message: "The practice is currently experiencing staff shortage and unprecedented demand on resources.

"As a practice, we are committed to giving the best care to our patients. With this in mind, the practice has made some temporary changes to ensure we are able to prioritise our patients' care safely.

"The practice is operating a temporary urgent-only appointment system. Any pre-booked appointments, routine treatments or tests will go ahead as usual. Our online consult service will be switched off at this time."

It continued: "If you feel your health concern cannot wait until the new year please stay on the line and our care advisor will help you shortly. These temporary changes will be under regular review. We thank you for your patience and understanding."

The same notice appears on the practice website.

One patient, who did not want to be named, told the Press: "I am quite aware of going to the pharmacy or opticians first but this leaves you in limbo, not knowing where to turn.

"The GP should be your first port of call.

"I have a daughter with severe mental health concerns and she needs to access care rapidly; it is quick for her to do something online but to ask her to sit on the phone and wait is no good to anybody.

"I understand if they wanted to do it a week or so before Christmas, but to do it at the start of December."

Dunfermline Central councillor Aude Boubaker-Calder said that several constituents had contacted her regarding the issue and that she would ask the surgery to reconsider their stance.

She said: "I am thinking about people with extreme pain, I am thinking of people struggling with mental health, I am thinking of people who rely on regular appointments.

"I know that in other surgeries in the ward it is also difficult to get appointments because of online forms, some people can't get seen even if they are in absolute agony."

She added: "Who decides what is an emergency? I am also feeling for staff who will have to answer calls from angry people.

"I would hope they do reconsider their position, especially in the winter months you expect a surgery to be open.

"I want them to give an explanation, if there is an issue we can try to deal with it, if there is a massive issue it can go to the health secretary.

"The main importance is getting them to reconsider and make sure every patient is taken seriously."

Cllr James Calder, convener of the City of Dunfermline area committee, said: "This is extremely concerning, there are a lot of vulnerable people who won't be able to get appointments.

"Usually when anyone gets in touch with a doctor it is already fairly urgent.

"I am a dad and have a small child, I've had a situation in the past where I haven't been able to get something seen and it has become much worse.

"I know there are a lot of issues for GPs, I am concerned about what is happening but it is symptomatic of a bigger problem."

The Press contacted Nethertown Surgery for comment but they did not respond before our print deadline.