Tweeddale medical practice is long established in Fort William and grew under the leadership of the late Dr John MacAskill to consist of an immediate practice team of twenty two personnel. The practice is an accredited training practice for doctors and medical students and has achieved the investors in people award and practice accreditation in 2002. The practice team are currently working towards the quality practice award(QPA) which is the highest team award for quality which can be awarded by the Royal College of General Practitioners. The current senior partner is a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners(FRCGP) and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh(FRCP)and three of the partners are members of the Royal College of General Practitioners through examination(MRCGP), two having achieved this qualification with distinction or merit.
Our surgery is situated in the fabulous new Fort William Health Centre which we share with Glen Mor and Craig Nevis practices as well as the NHS Highland Community Primary Care Services. There is ample car parking facilities including disabled spaces. All the local Pharmacies have arrangements with us to organise repeat prescriptions. We look forward to working with our colleagues in the new Health Centre to develop and enhance local health care services in Lochaber.
The area we cover includes Fort William, Caol, Inverlochy, Claggan, Lochyside, Banavie and Corpach. It extends to Glenfinnan and Lochailort to the West, Loch Lochy to the North, Roy Bridge and Fersit to the East and the Ballachulish bridge to the South. The Doctors consult twice daily, with a morning surgery at 9.30am and an afternoon surgery either at 2.15pm or 2.30pm. A recent audit showed that Tweeddale patients can nearly always see a doctor of their choice within one week and any doctor within 48 hours. A Duty Doctor is available every day to deal with urgent telephone advice, consultations and home visits. This ensures that a Doctor is available for urgent call-outs, thereby ensuring that surgeries are not disturbed. All our Doctors have mobile phones installed in their cars and this ensures direct communication at all times.
We provide a full range of maternity, family planning and child health surveillance services. One of the doctors holds a specialist qualification in womens' health(MRCOG) which means that an extended range of problems affecting women can be dealt with in the practice without the need to wait for hospital appointments. Doctors in the practice also carry out a wide range of minor surgical procedures which means that patients do not have to wait for hospital referral. We have special clinics for diabetes and asthma. All the Doctors are registered Police Surgeons and have a professional interest in occupational health. We have a special interest in diving medicine and emergency work with the ambulance service is co-ordinated by Dr Massie.
