A senior medic has warned challenges in Scotland’s GP services are now “intolerable” as new proposals are launched to future-proof primary care.
Dr Andrew Buist, the former chair of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) Scottish general practitioner’s committee said previous calls for NHS reform had “fallen on deaf ears”.
He has now co-authored a new report for Scottish Labour alongside Dr David Shackles, the former Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners in Scotland.
Following the publication of the policy paper, Scottish Labour leader committed to opening negotiations to create a new contract with GPs to strengthen care.
The announcement was made to emphasise the need to focus on GPs as patient numbers rise and medical services have become more fragmented.
Mr Sarwar has claimed contract negotiations will open within 100 days of entering Bute House, should Labour win the election on May 7.
The Scottish Government announced a £531 million recruitment deal in October. It was described as a "positive start" by the BMA, but concerns were raised after Audit Scotland warned the NHS was "financially unstable".
Dr Buist said: “We’ve become increasingly disillusioned with the direction of travel and lack of progress for the NHS in Scotland, the lack of investment in general practice to keep pace with patient needs and our falling share of the NHS spend.
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“And just about everything that we have said in our paper, I have said to the last three health secretaries in Scotland, but it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
“The 8am rush to get a GP appointment, engaged phones, long queues, and when you do get through, you're told there's no appointments to see you. That is intolerable.”
He said the current Scottish Government had a “track record” of failing to deliver on GP agreements.
Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference at the Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel in Clydebank, criticised the Scottish Government’s failure to reach the target to recruit 800 new GPs by 2027.
The number of GPs in Scotland in August 2025 was 4,582, up 197 from 4,385 in 2017.
Labour also aims to make it possible for patients to be seen by a GP within 48 hours, and to improve continuity of care over time as healthcare provision has become increasingly fragmented.
Mr Sarwar said: “Scots are crying out for the family doctor they can rely on, but after two decades of broken SNP promises too many people are left phoning at 8am, sitting on hold and still being told there are no appointments left.
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“The coming election is a fork in the road we can choose to bring back the family doctor people want and have relied upon or let the SNP continue to dismantle GP care.
“Primary care is at breaking point. We have fewer practices, fewer GPs and more patients. At the same time, the SNP has cut primary care’s share of the health budget. That is not sustainable and it is not fair on patients or staff.
“This election is the last chance to change direction and bring back the family doctor.”
Mr Sarwar said his party would end the 8am “scramble” to see a doctor.
The first of 15 new GP walk-in clinics opened at the Wester Hailes Living Centre in Edinburgh this week, with First Minister John Swinney stating the initiative will significantly improve access for patients.
NHS Lothian have confirmed that the clinic is currently staffed by a GP and an advance nurse practitioner. However, the Royal College of Nursing warned significant funding is needed, with 2,000 nursing posts vacant within the NHS.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We have already reached a historic deal with the BMA representing GPs last October which will see more than half a billion pounds invested into primary care.
"This deal demonstrates the important progress we have made in improving the system for patients, GPs and staff.
"GP numbers are going up, and our new network of walk-in clinics will make it easier for people to see a GP seven days a week without an appointment.”
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