GP crisis: Are more local surgeries at risk of closure?

Are more local GP surgeries at risk of closure?

A survey by the British Medical Association (BMA) says the percentage of practices with at least one GP vacancy has increased to more than a third (34%).

And 81% of practices say demand is exceeding capacity.

Several surgeries have already been affected by GP shortages or vacancies across Courier country.

Blairgowrie GP Dr Andrew Buist, also chair of the BMA’s Scottish GP Committee, says if things get worse it will be ‘catastrophic for the system.’

And now Fife MSP Alex Rowley is calling on NHS Fife to tell him if there are any further closure risks in the kingdom.

A shortage of GPs and a need for recruitment are national issues affecting several practices.

Which areas have been affected so far?

There is a growing list of communities in Tayside and Fife hit by the issue which we’ve reported on over the last few months including:

• Friockheim Health Centre in Angus closed after trying unsuccessfully for years to recruit more GPs
• Ryehill Health Centre in Dundee transferred 5,400 patients to other practices due to an inability to recruit doctors
• Valleyfield Health Centre in West Fife where patients raised concerns of a GP shortage earlier this year
• The Kinghorn community who told of their frustration after being left with locum cover for several months
• Methilhaven Surgery in Methil where practice partners terminated their contract in August.

  

The day to day running of those Fife practices – along with Links Practice in Burntisland and Linburn Road in Dunfermline – now falls to NHS Fife and Fife Health and Social Care Partnership.

They are responsible for making sure there’s medical care in place.

‘Catastrophic for the system’

Dr Andrew Buist, chair of the BMA’s Scottish GP Committee, says things won’t get better until the Scottish Government make sure there are more GPs.

There needs to be a focus and commitment on retaining existing GPs too, he adds.

“They cannot allow things to get any worse – it will be catastrophic for the system if they do,” he says.

“If it goes on, then it’s likely GP practices serving traditionally harder to recruit to areas, typically areas of higher social deprivation and rural areas, will suffer most.

“Practices will return their contracts and patient access to GP services will get even worse.”

Are other surgeries at threat in Fife?

Fife MSP Alex Rowley says he’s worried about other potential closures in the kingdom.

He wants a meeting with NHS Fife chief executive Carol Potter.

He adds: “How many more local surgeries are at threat as a result of a GP shortage?

“How many are struggling to keep up with demand, and how many more are at risk of collapse due to GPs leaving the service and a failure to recruit?”

‘More needs to be done’

Lisa Cooper, head of primary and preventative care for the Fife Health and Social Care Partnership, says: “We are acutely aware of the challenges some patients are facing when trying to arrange a GP appointment in Fife.”

Steps already taken to improve the level of service including setting up multi-disciplinary teams to support practices.

But she adds: “More needs to be done to improve the services provided in the medium term and find more sustainable GP cover for the longer term.”

This work is happening at pace, she assures.

How many new GPs nationally?

Health secretary Humza Yousaf MSP launched a campaign to recruit 800 more family doctors by 2027 in June.

The Scottish Government says there will be updated figures at the end of the month.

But so far:

• Scotland’s GP headcount increased by 277 from 4,918 to 5,195 between September 2017 and September 2021
• Trainee recruitment this year has so far been the most successful year of any of the last five, with 99% of GP training posts filled
• There have been 3,220 healthcare professionals recruited into multi-disciplinary teams to support practices.