Rural GPs vote to reject new contract

RURAL doctors have voted overwhelmingly to reject the proposed new GP contract set to be introduced across Scotland.

Figures show that of the 74 out of 115 rural GPs who voted, 65 were opposed to the proposal.

The snub comes after The Herald told how Dr Iain Kennedy, a North Scotland GP representative on the BMA Scottish Council, warned that family doctors in the Highlands feel “completely betrayed” by the funding split at the heart of the new contract.

In a survey carried out by the Rural GP Association of Scotland (RGPAS) and revealed by the Scotland On Sunday newspaper, 66 out of 74 doctors said they do not feel they have been adequately represented in the contract negotiations.

Dr David Hogg, chairman of the RGPAS, said they were still waiting to hear back from the Scottish GP Committee about concerns they have raised.

He added: “We would have expected greater assurance and clarity on how this contract is going to be implemented in rural areas and, without this, we have had to use our votes to indicate more thought must be given to rural-proofing the proposals.”

The new contract, set to be introduced this year, will hand partners an average windfall of £10,000 a year.

However, The Herald revealed an analysis of the contract’s workloadbased funding allocation formula by Oban GP Dr Erik Jespersen showed only 68 per cent of GP partners will benefit, while the rest – largely in rural areas and some in Scotland’s most deprived practices – would get nothing.