Doctors brand financial pressures faced by Scottish GP practices as 'national shame'

Doctors have described the financial pressures facing Scotland’s GP practices as a “national shame”.

Figures released on Tuesday show the workforce has increased since last year; however, the Scottish Government is highly unlikely to meet its target of recruiting an extra 800 GPs by 2027.

The government promised to make the process of getting an appointment with a doctor easier but GPs say they are struggling with growing demand.

Experienced GP Dr Matthew Oates, who recently set up his own private practice Southside Medical, told STV News: “There is no doubt that the NHS and day-to-day GPs are under increasing pressure.

“Everyone is aware of the difficulties that are there with funding, with recruitment, and also with ability for some GPs to find work because some practices can’t find funds for the locum roles for them.

“My experience as a day-to-day GP… is that this is a situation which is getting worse and not better.

Dr Matthew Oates recently opened private practice Southside Medical. STV News

“And as such, I am concerned that, if not already, it might reach a point where the traditional doctor-patient relationship is no longer workable.”

The number of whole time equivalent NHS GPs now stands at more than 3,500, an increase on last year.

But it is the first rise since 2019, when there were more than 3,600.

Dr Oates added: “Ultimately, it’s a national problem that needs to be tackled at a national level.

“What I hope, what I’m aiming to achieve at Southside Medical, is to perhaps at the very least begin to shift the conversation away from the daily 8am morning rush for appointments and towards a more accessible, patient centred model of care.”

One in nine Scots are currently waiting for treatment on an NHS waiting list.

The number of people who have been waiting more than a year for treatment has risen. Meanwhile in A&E, just 63.5% of people were seen within the government’s four-hour target.

The Scottish Government previously promised an extra 800 GPs by 2027 and last week the health secretary Neil Gray announced £15m to boost GP recruitment and capacity.

He told STV News: “We want to see more GPs in the system.

“We recognise that they are a crucial part of the system and they help to prevent the escalation of poor health.

“They can prevent many of the issues that present themselves at accident and emergency units and further into the acute system.

“That’s why we’ve got an aspiration to increase the number of GPs.”