GPs in West Dunbartonshire operate out of three local health centres.
By Lucy Ashton
The SNP government is ‘short-changing’ Scotland’s frontline GP practices, Scottish Labour can today reveal.
A letter from the Directorate for Primary Care to GPs and Health Board Directors has revealed that the Scottish Government will not fulfil its promise of passing £15m of sustainability payments onto GP practices this year.
Citing budget pressures, the Directorate states that only £10m will be sent on to GP practices despite the SNP government promising that £15m would be made available.
This news comes as GP practices across Scotland face increased demand for services due to the looming winter crisis in our NHS.
Dr Andrew Buist, Chair of BMA Scotland’s GP committee, has warned of ‘dire consequences’ as a result of the government’s actions.
Scottish Labour has said today that this is nothing short of a ‘betrayal’ of primary care in Scotland.
Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie, right, said: “This is nothing short of a betrayal of frontline GPs and the communities that they serve.
“We face a massive winter crisis in our NHS – but this SNP government is slashing the support available to GPs.
“We know what this short-changing will mean – increased pressure on GP practices and people missing out on much needed medical help.
“The SNP government cannot continue to treat Scotland’s GPs with such dangerous disregard.”
Dr Dr Andrew Buist, Chair of BMA Scotland’s GP committee, said: “This is a critical time for general practice in Scotland as we face the twin threats of practice workloads reaching breaking point and spiraling operating costs threatening the sustainability of practices.
“Failure to support general practice now could have dire consequences for patient care across Scotland.”