Promises to improve access must be practically meaningful and not fragment services, says RCGP Scotland Chair

Commenting on the SNP announcement of a new network of walk in GP services, Chair Dr Chris Provan said:

"GPs are as frustrated as their patients when there are difficulties in accessing a GP appointment. Promises to improve patient access must be practically meaningful and not just create a more fragmented service.  We want to be able to provide our patients with quality access to their GP but emphasis on speed can simply risks driving down the quality of care for patients.

"Our concern is that this proposal does not address the major barriers to good access: critical workforce shortages and unmanageable workload. While there has been a modest increase in whole-time equivalent GPs over the past year, Scotland still has fewer GPs today than it did a decade ago. This is the fundamental problem. 

"GPs will have serious concerns about the delivery and impact of this proposal, and we will await clarity on the implementation detail. Who will staff these new services and their extended, weekend hours? How will continuity of care be preserved, when patients benefit enormously from knowing and trusting their regular GP? Where will these services be located, when many GP practice premises are not fit for purpose and are waiting for long overdue capital investment?

"The best way to deliver improved patient access and care would be to provide the level of investment needed to overcome the impact of cumulative years of underfunding and the implementation of a long term workforce strategy to increase the number of GPs.

"Only then can we offer the quality access and continuity of care that patients deserve."

Further information

Media requests to Marcus Carslaw, Policy and Public Relations Officer RCGP Scotland
Tel: 07808 795493
marcus.carslaw@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

RCGP Scotland represents a network of around 5,000 doctors in Scotland aiming to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standard of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on resources, education, training, research, and clinical standards.