By Bill Heaney
Scottish Labour has accused the SNP of “tearing up” its promises to GPs as it reveals loan funding has been pulled.
The SNP government has confirmed that initial applications to the GP Sustainability Loan Scheme have been suspended until further notice, and it cannot confirm when they will resume or when further rounds of funding will begin.
The GP Sustainability Loan Scheme was introduced in a bid to tackle the GP recruitment crisis by easing the financial burden associated with owning a practice.
The scheme was a key plank in the 2018 GP Contract agreement, which still only narrowly passed.
Scottish Labour has warned the move would “fan the flames of the GP crisis” and called on the SNP to deliver on their promises.
Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie, left, said “GPs across Scotland are already at breaking point, and now they have had the rug pulled from under them by the SNP.
“The SNP is tearing up its commitments to General Practice and undermining the GP contract that they negotiated.
“This damaging move will fan the flames of the GP crisis and make recruitment more difficult.“General Practice is a crucial front door to our NHS and the SNP must support over-stretched GPs and deliver on its promises.
“These loans must be delivered along with a real plan to deliver the 800 extra GPs the SNP promised.”
Dr Brian McLachlan, representing a Helensburgh Medical Practice, said: “The loss of the premises sustainability loan creates additional pressure on the recruitment of new GPs as partners to GP practices who own their own premises.
“It was a key plank and visionary part of the 2018 GP contract and Scottish Government promoted it by stating it would improve sustainability and recruitment.
“Suspending this can have no effect other than damaging the sustainability and recruitment of new GPs.”