April 23rd 2024

By Ailsa Colquhoun

Scottish Liberals highlight Highlands practice closures

Eight practices have closed in the Scottish Highlands, prompting criticism of Scottish GP recruitment and retention.

In light of the figures, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has slammed the Scottish Government for driving local health services into the ground.

Figures from the British Medical Association show reductions in the number of active GP practices in at least 12 out of 14 Scottish health boards.

As well as reductions in the Highlands, there are 11 fewer in Grampian, 16 fewer in Lanarkshire and 17 fewer practices in Glasgow.

The number of patients per GP in the area has also gone up in 13 out of 14 health boards. In Lanarkshire each GP is now responsible for 2,201 patients. In Fife, they are responsible for 1,816. In Grampian they are responsible for 1,803.

Across Scotland, 79 practices, or almost 10 per cent of the total have formally closed their list to new patients. That’s up from just 19 practices in 2018.

Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: “Increasing numbers of GP practices are being forced to close their patient lists because they do not have sufficient resources to meet their patient needs.

Cole-Hamilton says that Scottish Liberal Democrats would boost mental health and physiotherapy services, if elected to the Scottish Government.