£15m Easter boost for GP surgeries

GP practices are to receive £15m to help them cope with the coronavirus crisis and remain open over the Easter weekend to relieve pressure on out-of-hours services.

The new Scottish Government funding will help cover the costs of equipment, additional non-clinical staff, GP partners and locum cover for sickness leave – though personal protective equipment will be supplied separately at no cost to surgeries.

Announcing the new money, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman thanked GP practice staff for their “incredible hard work throughout this pandemic.”

She added: “They are doing an invaluable job to keep crucial primary care services going in very challenging circumstances. Working with the Scottish GP Committee of BMA Scotland we have agreed a package of additional funding for GP practices to help them meet some of the costs of responding to Covid-19. Part of this will help to cover the cost of remaining open on Good Friday and Easter Monday and the remainder will help to meet other costs being faced by practices during this difficult time.”

Chair of the BMA’S Scottish GP Committee Dr Andrew Buist said the request to keep GP practices open over public holidays was not “taken lightly”. He added: “Practices and out of hours services are working under more pressure than ever during this pandemic and I know GPS across Scotland are willing to put in the extra work required to help the NHS fight this virus. Our NHS is changing, and at the forefront of that change is the primary care response. ”