RCGP Scotland: making the headlines

The forthcoming Scottish Parliament election represents an important opportunity for RCGP Scotland. The pressures facing general practice are receiving unprecedented levels of media attention and access to GP appointments now ranks as the public's priority for the NHS. As political parties address this in their manifestos and step up their campaigning, it’s essential that the College is front and centre in representing the profession.  

Recent developments have offered some grounds for optimism; the Scottish Government’s announcement of £531 million in funding for general practice over the next three years signals a welcome recognition that the system is under strain. This promise of investment is a step in the right direction, but it must be understood as the start of a longer-term shift in funding. That’s why we used the announcement to highlight the central argument of our manifesto - General practice: The solution to the NHS crisis - that funding must be restored to at least 11% of the health budget, with a longer-term ambition of reaching 15%.  

Our messaging has been resonating. We secured front-page coverage in The Herald, underlining ongoing frustrations with outdated IT systems and poor interface working between primary and secondary care - issues that both GPs and the public will be all too familiar with. The paper even printed an accompanying cartoon, depicting a patient asking, “Give it to me straight, doc - how long does your computer have?” This captured the situation with humour, but also with uncomfortable accuracy. 

Momentum continued with front-page coverage in The Scotsman for our report on implementing relational continuity of care. Continuity is the essence of general practice, providing better clinical outcomes, deeper levels of trust and more efficient care. This coverage helped us to highlight our concerns regarding workforce shortages and our manifesto ask for a credible long-term workforce plan. 

Not all recent policy developments have been positive. The announcement of GP led walk-in centre pilots sparked significant concern among the profession. Evidence from elsewhere shows that such models offer limited clinical value while being more expensive than core general practice. We’ve been vocal in opposing this move – by my count securing more than 500 media hits on this issue alone - arguing strongly that investment should focus on strengthening core general practice rather than introducing costly and ineffective duplication. 

Our growing presence in broadcast media has been indispensable. Along with Vice Chair, Dr Chris Williams, I’ve found myself a regular voice on BBC and STV News. These appearances ensure that we’re reaching as wide an audience as possible.  Indeed, some of my patients have joked that I’m never off the TV! 

As we move toward what will be an important election for the future of general practice, I am confident RCGP Scotland will continue to be at the forefront, highlighting the concerns and priorities of our members. We will be working with the Chairs of our local Faculties to deliver regional and local press coverage and proactively cover all other asks contained within our manifesto.  

A strong media presence is essential if we are to successfully win our case not only with policy makers, but also the public.