January 22nd 2025

By Ailsa Colquhoun

Scottish GPs voice vaccination service fears after a child dies

GPs in Scotland have voiced their belief that removing vaccination services from GPs resulted in the death of a child.

In a members’ business debate in the Scottish Parliament, MSPs heard how GPs felt that the death could be blamed on a lack of access to vaccination following the loss of provision of the service by local GPs. A fatal accident inquiry is ongoing.

During the debate, MSPs were told of the unique challenges faced by rural people when accessing health and social care. They also heard of the difficulties associated with recruitment and retention of staff in rural healthcare services, infrastructure, and the inability to access certain services.

Bringing the debate, Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con) said that GPs need a realistic funding model that can sustain smaller establishments. He concluded: “The current system does not work.”

• The role of dispensing GPs in rural areas of England has also been discussed in the UK Parliament