The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
GPs suffer costs and staff crisis
Crippling energy bills, difficulty recruiting staff and growing hospital waiting lists are combining to create a “perfect storm” for GP practices in Moray.
An ageing population with more complex medical conditions and a fall in the number of practices are adding to the growing pressure on doctors.
From 2007-23, the number of GP practices across Grampian fell from 84 to 69, an 18% reduction.
But there has been a 25% decrease over the same period in Moray, from 16 practices to 12.
Yesterday we told how Health Secretary Michael Matheson has refused to get involved in a row that could see Lossiemouth-based Moray Coast Medical Practice shutting its Hopeman and Burghead practices.
Forres GP Dr Malcolm Simmons and Dr Robert Lockhart, from Maryhill Group Practice in Elgin, outlined the problems the region is facing at a recent meeting of the Moray Integration Joint Board (MIJB).
Dr Lockhart told members there had been a “significant and prolonged period of pressure” on practices across the country.
He said: “The net effect of this is primary care feels more unstable than I have ever experienced before.
“We have felt locally what happens when practices close. It has a wide ripple effect on the health and social care system and it is difficult to absorb that.
“The threat of primary care becoming unstable, and potentially running into serious problems, could have huge and far-reaching impact for health and social care.”
Two years ago, Maryhill took on patients from Elgin Community Surgery when the GP contract was in danger of being handed back to the health board.
It has also run the surgery in Rothes since 2014 when the Speyside town’s doctor retired.
Problems recruiting in Moray have resulted in funds for expanding the workforce to ease GP pressures being withdrawn.
Grampian practices also have no help with the increased costs of gas and electricity as they are unable to access a reduced energy tariff available in other parts of the country.
Dr Simmons said: “It puts additional pressure on practices; it cripples what we’re trying to do.
“When you can’t help staff, when you can’t provide services to patients, when you don’t have the money to pay staff fairly, you’ve got a perfect storm unfortunately.”
NHS Grampian has reduced GP funding from 7.8% of its operating costs in 2019-20 to 7% in 2021-22.
But spending on other services has increased by 18%.
The MIJB will lobby the Scottish Government to address issues disproportionately impacting practices in Moray.
Vice-chairwoman Tracy Colyer, councillor for Keith and Cullen, said: “Nothing can be done without more money from the Scottish Government.”