New contract delivers 10% increase in GPs

The number of GPs in Scotland has risen by more than 10 per cent since a new contract designed to attract doctors to general practice was introduced in 2004.

Official figures yesterday showed GP numbers were 4,937 in 2011, up from 4,456 in 2004.

A new UK-wide contract was established in 2004 to help stop GPs leaving the profession and encourage more newly qualified doctors to consider it as a career.

The Scottish Government plans to take greater control of the negotiations of the GP contract in Scotland to allow focus on integrating health and social care and other public health “priorities”.

While the rise in GPs was welcomed by the British Medical Association’s Scottish general practitioners committee, it warned the increase does not necessarily equate to greater GP availability, due to changes in demographics and working arrangements.

Dr Dean Marshall, chairman of the committee, said: “If the Scottish Government is serious about creating a more Scottish-focused GP contract, then they must put in place measures to meet the growing demand for GP services.

“In areas of growing populations, they must ensure town planners have a duty to consider the impact of new housing developments on local health services and to put in place measures to provide support for the creation of new practices.”

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “Our NHS is currently in a period of transition. The balance of care is shifting towards community settings and hospital stays are becoming shorter.”