The scale of Scotland’s GP crisis has been laid bare in a “devastating” new report.
An analysis by the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) Scotland shows that the NHS north of the border will have lost 12 family doctors in the last three months – the equivalent of one every eight days.
And the group have warned that they need 830 new GPs just to return services to the level enjoyed in 2009 amid growing concern practices will close without urgent action.
Scottish Conservatives health spokesman Donald Cameron branded the analysis “devastating”.
He added: “Before the election, Nicola Sturgeon was on record saying that GPs must receive a greater share of the health pot. Yet she’s been utterly silent on this since.
“Unless she acts, people will rightly conclude that the SNP promised one thing before an election, only to bury that promise after it.
“Nicola Sturgeon made a commitment on GPs. It’s time she got back to the day job and delivered.”
The RCGP has now launched a Think GP campaign, designed to encourage people to think about the profession.
Scottish Labour Health Spokesman Anas Sarwar also accused the SNP of “continuing to ignore” the GP crisis.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Scotland already has the highest number of GPs per head in the UK – and the number has risen to an all-time high under the SNP, while we have increased the number of new training places for GPs by 100 across Scotland this year alone.
“That solid track record of delivery is in stark contrast with the chaotic situation under the Tories in England, where the NHS has been gripped by unprecedented strike action from junior doctors.”
