Rural GPS take ‘unanimous view’ against new contract

Doctors express concerns over funding and salary

Rural doctors have taken a “unanimous view” against the new Scottish Government GP contract over concerns that issues in remote areas are not being addressed.

Dr David Hogg, chairman of the Rural GP Association of Scotland (RGPAS), tweeted that the contract had “lots of opportunities missed” and that their future standpoint would depend on how much they are able to engage with the Scottish GP Commitee before the profession votes on the new terms on 1 December.

Doctors in some of the most remote parts of the country are concerned that the new contract falls short of providing assurances that funding is safe and payment for the job will reflect the additional services these GPS provide.

The new contract will guarantee GP partners minimum earnings of £80,430 and offer interest free premises loans in a bid to return the profession to a sustainable footing amid the current recruitment crisis.

Dr Hogg said: “We’re keen to stress that it’s a unanimous view at the moment, hence why we’re keen to use the opportunity we have before the polling day to work with the SGPC on that.

“It’s not an absolute position as yet, depends how much we’re able to engage with SGPC over the next fortnight.”

The contract proposes GPS working as the head of a multidisciplinary team to work with GP practices to provide direct access to services for patients.

Dr Hogg added: “We want to make very clear that involving our colleagues, including pharmacists and physiotherapists, in the wider healthcare team makes total sense, there is no question about that, but in smaller practices the staff are simply not there or there has been a very haphazard approach.

“The real damage the con- tract could do is raise expectations again.”

The latest concerns come as Dr Miles Mack, who stepped down as the Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland chairman this month. warned local doctors will lose their autonomy to employ and manage their practice under the new GP contract.

Shadow health secretary Miles Briggs said: “The concerns of rural GPS about the proposed new contract are serious and will need to be addressed by the Scottish Government. Rural GPS have contacted me to express unhappiness with aspects of the contract, for example the removal of responsibility for delivering vaccination programmes.”