Scotland ‘on track’ to recruit 800 GPs – Yousaf

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has insisted he is “very confident” a target for increasing the number of GPs in Scotland by 800 will be met.

Mr Yousaf said the number of family doctors has so far risen by only 275, but he added that “much of the increase” will come in the later years of the target, which is to be met by 2027.

The commitment to increase GP numbers, first made in 2017, is “extremely ambitious”, Mr Yousaf accepted.

But he said: “I think we are on track to meet that target.”

His comments came in the wake of new research showing just two-thirds of Scots had a positive experience at their GP practice last year.

The Health and Care Experience Survey saw 67% of respondents give a positive rating, when asked about their overall experience, a drop of 12% from the previous survey.

It comes after GP services were disrupted last year because of the pandemic, resulting in many patients being seen by phone or virtually to avoid the spread of the virus.

Less than two-fifths (37%) of patients saw their GP face to face last year – a fall of 49%.

Mr Yousaf told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme yesterday that ministers, along with GP representatives, are “committed” to increasing the number of patients seen in person. However, he stressed this will “be part of a hybrid model”.

But he was clear: “For those who want to see their GP face to face, and it is clinically appropriate for them to see their GP face to face, they should be seen face to face.

“We will see numbers of people making faceto-face appointments increase, I am certain of that.”