MORE than half of GPs in Scotland want longer consultations with patients, according to the latest survey of the workforce.
The survey of 900 GPs across Scotland found that only seven per cent thought the current 10-minute appointment times were long enough and 53 per cent wanted longer consultation times with certain patients, including those with a long-term condition. More than a third (40 per cent) said all patients needed more time with their doctors.
The vast majority of respondents also said they felt their heavy workloads were having a detrimental effect on the quality of care they could offer patients, and called on the Scottish Government to ensure that the extra £500 million a year promised for primary care by 2021 is spent on frontline general practice.
Dr Alan McDevitt, Chair of the BMA’s Scottish GP committee, said: “The rising workload is simply unsustainable and something has to change to make general practice in Scotland fit for the future. It is essential that the additional £500m per year promised by the Scottish Government is spent directly on supporting general practice.
"Giving us more time with patients, expanding the GP workforce and supporting the practice-based primary care team will help to ensure the quality of care that our patients receive remains of a high standard.”
It comes after a pilot study at four surgeries in Glasgow found that giving GPs longer with patients was more cost effective than many prescription drugs. The trial, which reported its findings in June this year, found that patients with complex needs who spent half and hour or more with their doctors were healthier a year later than a group of similar patients who received a standard service.
The survey also highlighted the impact GP workload was having on patient care. The most recent analysis of staffing across GP practices across Scotland found that a record 28 per cent had at least one vacancy for a doctor, and more than one in 10 GPs (91 per cent) told the BMA their workload has negatively impacted on the quality of care given to patients.
Scottish Labour health spokesman Anas Sarwar said "overworked and overstretched" GP practices were bad for patients.
He said: "That means poorer care for patients who aren't getting adequate time with their doctor. Also, high vacancy rates mean they aren't seeing the same doctor regularly because of locum cover - especially in the poorest communities.”
Alison Johnstone, health spokeswoman for the Scottish Greens said GPs in the poorest areas should have a greater share of funding.
She said: "Scottish Ministers also need to review the way funding is dispersed as GPs in deprived areas dealing with the health impacts of poverty have the heaviest workloads yet do not receive a fair share of funding."
Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “We are significantly increasing the amount of investment going into primary and GP care – an extra £500 million by the end of this Parliament. However, as we have made consistently clear, we must also reform the way we provide services. These reforms, coupled with the additional investment, will help to improve the attractiveness of general practice as a career, reduce workloads, and create a more sustainable workforce.”
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