GPs stand firm on extra hours

Published on Thursday 26 June 2008 10:40

HEALTH chiefs have been warned extra funding for nurses will not solve the row over GPs' extended hours.

The Scottish Government wants surgeries to offer more flexible opening hours for people who struggle to attend during the normal working day.

Yesterday it announced an additional 2.6 million would help pay for nurses to staff the surgeries out of hours.

However, today Dr Dean Marshall, chairman of the British Medical Association's Scottish general practitioners committee and a Dalkeith GP, said:

"We do not think putting even more money into extended hours is a good use of resources.

"The Government has again refused to negotiate with representatives of GPs before putting more money into services which are not going to benefit the vast majority of the general public."

The 2.6m to be paid to nurses has not changed their minds.

Dr Marshall said: "There's not enough money in it. The money works out at the same as I'm paying my staff anyway. There's no incentive for them to work overtime."