Brexit and investment issues put strain on GPs

Doctor warns there are not enough qualified staff to cover Tayside region

Brexit and underinvestment in recruitment are putting significant strain on GP practices in Tayside and Scotland, a top doctor has warned.

The Scottish Government faces “a significant challenge” to increase the number of GPs working in the country, according to a report published by Audit Scotland.

Vice-chairman of Tayside Local Medical Committee Dr Andrew Cowie said rural surgeries were struggling to recruit GPs, nurses and other staff.

Audit Scotland said an ageing clinical workforce and problems with recruitment and retention will make it difficult for the Scottish Government to meet its target to boost the number of GPs by at least 800 over the next decade.

A rise in Scotland’s elderly population is also described as putting extra pressure on primary care services.

The number of people over the age of 75 living in the country is estimated to rise by 27% between 2016 and 2026.

Dr Cowie said: “In Tayside there are not enough doctors and associated staff, including specialist nurses, physios and locums. The issue Tayside also has is not just a lack of numbers but premises are insecure – there has been various solutions put forward but nothing put in place.

“Brexit is also another issue. We cannot attract staff from the EU anymore to work in our practices – why would they want to come over when there is nothing secure? It has cut us off at the knees.

“There is underinvestment in Tayside, it is similar across the whole of Scotland.

“Rural practices however are more susceptible to problems. Recently there have been concerns for rural practices across Tayside.”

The Audit Scotland report noted although government commitments to train additional GPs, nurses and midwives are on track, it is not clear how many will go on to join the primary care workforce on the ground.

Dundee-based Labour MSP Jenny Marra MSP, convener of the Scottish Parliament’s public audit and post legislative scrutiny committee, said: “Once again, we are seeing the impact the lack of detailed national data has on delivering frontline services.

“This has been a recurring theme in a number of audit reports the committee has scrutinised.”

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Today’s report from Audit Scotland highlights the vital role primary care plays in delivering our long-term vision of shifting the balance of care towards community and preventative care.

“As we work to address the challenges in this area we are seeking to build on our record number of GPs by at least 800 in the next 10 years. This is backed by our substantial annual increases in primary care and general practice funding.

“The new GP contract and investment in multi-disciplinary teams is increasing capacity in primary care and helping patients to be seen at the right time by the right person.

“Uncertainty around a ‘no-deal’ Brexit continues to pose a significant threat across the health and social care sector, both in terms of the supply of medicines and critical goods and the impact which the loss of freedom of movement will have on the recruitment and retention of staff.”

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This has been a recurring theme in a number of audit reports. JENNY MARRA MSP