GP surgeries in ‘cry for help’ over locum costs
MSP says stand-in doctors are holding practices to ransom
An MSP has called for urgent action over the spiralling cost of locum cover for GP practices in Lanarkshire.
Central Scotland representative Graham Simpson raised the matter in Holyrood after receiving letters written by two local GP surgeries, with one saying it was a “cry for help”.
He told the parliament that Lanarkshire surgeries are at breaking point with the cost of bringing in shortterm help – one locum asked for £764 a day and the full cost of his travel from the Isle of Man to be covered.
Mr Simpson said: “When we have a GP crisis, the cost of locums goes up, and that is certainly what has been happening recently in Lanarkshire and beyond.
“We are rapidly reaching a crisis point with trying to provide adequate GP locum cover.
“Trying to find locum GP cover for existing GPS already in place in general practice is becoming a major issue.
“According to one letter, locums have discovered their rarity to be a valid reason to ransom.
“Most surgeries would usually pay between £230 to £260 per three-hour session for a GP locum cover and up to £500 for a full day. That has recently increased to up to £800 a day.
“Along with this is the demand locums won’t do extra duties including home visits and signing prescriptions. It’s incredibly time-consuming and try to hold GP practices to frustrating and on a couple of instances locums have asked for, such as much as £650 per day to see no more than 30 patients, with no additional duties.”
Mr Simpson went on: “Those sort of demands are holding the NHS and the people of Scotland to ransom.
“A different practice says that the crisis in locum recruitment is a source of stress and frustration and talks about the spiralling financial demands of locums and their refusing to undertake duties other than seeing the requisite number of patients in the clinic.
“If that is not a crisis, I do not know what is.
“That practice calls the unjust and morally unfair.
“That situation is completely unacceptable. The Scottish Government needs to listen and do something to fix this ridiculous situation now.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Under this Government staffing levels in NHS Lanarkshire have increased by 14.5 per cent to over 10,600 Whole Time Equivalent, including a 69.2 per cent increase in consultant staff, and a 25.3 per cent increase in GP’S. In spite of these increases we are situation working to reduce the use of agency staff in NHS Scotland.
“All NHS boards have clear action plans in place to reduce the use of expensive agency staff, as well as enhanced governance arrangements to ensure than when temporary staff are required, then agency is the very last resort. We are also developing regional staff banks to ensure there is a greater pool of flexible staff available to cover short term gaps.”
NHS Lanarkshire comment. declined to