DOCTORS are calling on the Scottish Government to share their plan for the future of general practice, saying funding is declining along with patient safety.
Ahead of a major GP conference, which is due to be attended by Health Secretary Shona Robison, the Royal College of GPs Scotland has blasted the lack of concrete progress reforming community healthcare.
Difficulties recruiting GPs have been reported in a number of different health boards and surgeries are struggling to attract junior doctors to the profession.
Figures issued by RCGPs Scotland also show the share of the NHS budget which is dedicated to general practice has shrunk from 9.8 per cent in 2005/06 to 7.6 per cent in 2013-14, yet the Scottish Government's 2020 Vision is for more frail elderly people to be looked after in the community.
Dr Miles Mack, chairman of RCGP Scotland, said: “Grassroots GPs have come to question if a political strategy exists for general practice in Scotland. While we wholeheartedly wish to help deliver the 2020 Vision, current trends, illustrated by these figures, represent a reduction in people’s access to GP services, a reduction evident across more than one Parliamentary term. The Scottish Government needs to act urgently to reassure GPs and the public."
Speaking from his own practice in Dingwall, he added: “Even the small beginning to addressing the problems has stalled. In November of last year a Primary Care Fund was announced. Its use lay undecided until it was eventually replaced with a new, lesser fund announced this June. Much of that, too, is now sitting fallow with decisions pending on its use. We were assured of urgent action on recruitment and retention of GPs. Despite June’s announcement we have little confirmed.
“The profession still does not know what definite actions will be taken."
Around 2,000 people are expected to attend the RCGP Annual Primary Care conference at the SECC in Glasgow tomorrow.
Dr Mack said he hoped to hear about immediate action at the event, not more "promises for tomorrow.”
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