INVERCLYDE’S MSP has taken the concerns of local GPs up with the health secretary.

Stuart McMillan met with family doctors in recent months to discuss recruitment problems locally and other issues.

Experienced GPs have previously told the Tele that the situation in Inverclyde is the worst it has ever been with practices even struggling to find locums to fill in.

Inverclyde has been chosen as a pilot area to try new ways of working and health chiefs have introduced paramedics to try to plug the gaps.

Now Stuart McMillan has written to Health Secretary Shona Robison to try to address a series of health issues locally.

The Inverclyde MSP said: “I met with a number of local GPs after writing to all of them asking for a meeting to discuss any concerns they had, which I subsequently put in a letter again to the health secretary.”

A recent report by Audit Scotland again highlighted the shortage of GPs as well as the growing number of patients waiting longer for treatment.

The watchdog concluded that, as a result, health in Scotland was not improving.

Inverclyde has some of the worst statistics for health inequalities in the country.

The GP shortage has become a particular problem locally and the area was chosen to pilot new measures to try to address it.

Mr McMillan also met with the new Greater Glasgow and Clyde Chief Executive Jane Grant to discuss matters.

He said that he was impressed by her enthusiasm.

But added: “Out-patient waiting times, A&E waiting times and GP issues need to be addressed and I have written to and spoken with the health secretary about these matters."

But Mr McMillan restated the Scottish Government’s commitment to the area by reassuring the public that Inverclyde Royal is not under threat.

He also said that there had been investments with the new Orchard View unit and plans for a new health centre in Greenock.