MSP raises concerns on GP recruitment in the north-east
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At First Minister's Questions on Thursday, North-east MSP Tess White warned Nicola Sturgeon that north-east GP surgery closures are putting patients’ safety at risk amid concerns more may close if recruitment crisis isn’t addressed.
The MSP said the closures of practices such as Burghead and Hopeman in Moray and recruitment struggles at Fyvie Oldmeldrum Medical Group in Aberdeenshire sounded “alarm bells” over the future of the profession.
It comes as Audit Scotland said NHS jobs targets under Scotland's Covid recovery plan are “unlikely to be met” while the GP workforce increased by just 113 between 2017 and 2022.
Ms White spoke of her anger at the recent closures across the north-east, saying patients are paying the price for the SNP’s woeful recruitment plan which is “failing miserably”.
In her question to Ms Sturgeon, she said: “This week, north-east GPs have sounded the alarm that general practice will become ‘an extinct profession’.
“And they point the finger at ‘a blatant and shameful lack of support from the Scottish Government’.
“GP surgeries including Burghead, Hopeman and Fyvie Oldmeldrum Medical Group in my region have closed, will close or have handed back their contract.
“And Audit Scotland has warned again today that the key target to increase the GP workforce by 2027 ‘is not on track’.
“Can the First Minister explain why the action her government is taking is to address the GP recruitment and retention crisis is failing miserably and is putting patient safety at risk?”
In her response, Ms Sturgeon went against the Audit Scotland findings and said: “In terms of the GP recruitment target for 2027, I believe we are on track but as Audit Scotland rightly says that will continue to be challenging but we will continue to focus on that.”
Following FMQs, Ms White voiced fears that other GP practices may close unless recruitment is urgently addressed.
She added: “These recurring GP closures across the north-east are a damning indictment of years of atrocious NHS workforce planning from the SNP Government.
“Our NHS is on its knees and Nicola Sturgeon and her failing health secretary need to recruit and, crucially, retain staff if our remaining local medical practices are to survive.
“GPs and nurses are absolutely exhausted and they are leaving in their droves because they have no confidence in Humza Yousaf’s failing Covid recovery plan.
“The Scottish Government must get a grip of this situation before it’s too late.”
Tess White’s FMQ to Nicola Sturgeon can be found at 12:31:10 here.
