More protection for family docs

HEALTHCARE professionals and the public are both calling for investment in general practice as fears grow over the future of family doctors.

GP campaign group Rebuild General Practice has sent out a warning that there is a real danger of patients being left without a GP, prompting a crisis like the one Scots currently face in dentistry.

They do not make these claims lightly and it is essential that politicians react positively.

The campaigners are clear – we need proper investment in general practice and medical professionals must be allowed to control it.

GP John Montgomery is understandably frustrated at the increased demands on his practice, which will be typical of many across the country.

Politicians with no experience at the sharp end are calling all the shots but it is long overdue that they start listening to those on the front line.

GPs deal with 90 per cent of all NHS patients but receive only seven per cent of the budget.

Doctors have been complaining for years about the unfair split but faced with increasing numbers of patients and fewer GPs, they have finally had enough.

Older GPs are refusing to work on and younger medics don’t want a career in general practice, so unless there is a change of direction in funding, the crisis is set to get worse.

And with a dearth of GPs, the queues at hospitals will only get longer.

Family doctors are a vital community asset and they must be protected at all costs.

Without them, the entire health service could collapse like a house of cards.