New figures show slight drop in GPs

The number of Forth Valley GPs has dropped to its lowest number in three years, according to new NHS figures.

Statistics released on Tuesday from the Information Services Division show that the number of GPs operating in the Forth Valley area has come down to 270 from 278 in the previous year.

There were 261 general practicioners in 2015, and the number grew substantially in the following two years.

While the new figure is down on last year, it is are in line with GP numbers over the past decade.

However, Mid Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Dean Lockhart has described the drop as being symptomatic of a‘GP crisis’.

Mr Lockhart argues that the figures are evidence of“complacency shown by the Scottish Government towards Forth Valley’s GP practices”.

He said:“Stirling’s GP practices are struggling to cope with the GP crisis which is occurring across Scotland. The stagnant and, in this case, falling number in GPs directly affects waiting times and forces people into Minor Injuries and Accident and Emergency departments, putting unwanted pressure on those services as well.”

“The crisis facing Stirling’s GPs is as a direct consequence of the SNP Scottish Government’s chaotic workforce planning. Under the disastrous decisions of the SNP, we’ve seen a whole lost decade to try and fix the issues facing Scottish Family Doctors, GP retention and recruitment.”

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said they were committed to increasing the number of GPs in Scotland by at least 800 over the next decade.

“The latest figures show we are making progress in delivering that commitment,”she added.

“To build on this we are investing a further £7.5 million in 2018/19 in GP recruitment and retention. The number of doctors in training has increased by more than 10 per cent under this government. In addition, by 2020/21 we will have increased medical schools places by 22 per cent, equivalent to an extra 190 places.

“The new GP contract – backed by £110 million this year and negotiated with the BMA and GPs - introduces multi-disciplinary teams to practices to ensure GPs are able to spend more time with patients, and less time on bureaucracy, making a career in general practice even more attractive to younger doctors.”