PATIENT care is suffering as a result of GP practices that are too small and outdated and crumbling, a leading doctor has claimed.
Dr Alan McDevitt, chairman of the British Medical Association's Scottish GPs committee, said the "vast majority of GPs and their staff are struggling by in buildings that are not fit for purpose". He was speaking as a new survey for the BMA found more than one third of family doctors said their practice building is not adequate to deliver services to patients.
A total of 36.7 per cent of GP practices surveyed said this is the case, while almost three out of five (59.2 per cent) said the delivery of extra services to patients was constrained because of their premises.
Slightly more practices (61.3 per cent) said there is not enough room for GP education or training, while just over half (53.2 per cent) said doctors have to share consulting rooms or "hot desk".
The BMA surveyed 441 GP practices across Scotland.
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