Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-27494

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what communications it has had it with NHS Lanarkshire regarding the future of the Salsburgh GP surgery, and what action it can take to ensure that the surgery does not close.

The Practice has been operating a reduced service since August 2019 due to ongoing GP recruitment issues. The Scottish Government has spoken with the HSCP and they have advised they have looked at many ways to reduce the pressure on the Practice and make it more attractive to new GPs. Appointments were triaged, a nurse was trained to deal with minor ailments, online systems were put in place for prescriptions and video consultations were used. The Practice also benefited from staff supplied by the Health Board including a phlebotomist and pharmacist. After monitoring attendance at the branch for a number of months the decision was made that it was no longer viable to continue to offer appointments out of the Salsburgh branch. Arrangements have been put in place to ensure Patients who previously attended the Salsburgh branch surgery are registered with the main Practice in Chapelhall. Patients will continue to access clinical services in Chapelhall. This offers patients a wider variety of access to other health professionals that they would not be able to access at the Salsburgh surgery, in line with the new GP contract that patients access the right person at the right place at the right time.

The majority of GP practices in Scotland are independent bodies who have been contracted to deliver services to the NHS and, while we expect satisfactory systems to be in place for the benefit of all patients, it is for GPs to decide what arrangements most suit their patients.

We have a record number of GPs working in Scotland, with more GPs per head than the rest of UK – and we are increasing the number by at least 800 over the period 2017 - 2027.

Question reference: S5F-04076

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 March 2020

Question to be taken in chamber.

Question reference: S5W-27496

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs it expects to recruit in the next (a) five and (b) 10 years.

We have a record number of GPs working in Scotland, with an increase of 130 over the last two years taking the number of GPs working in Scotland to 5,049. We are working to further increase the current numbers by at least 800 over the period 2017 - 2027.

Our workforce planning takes account of the information available on those interested in re-entering or retiring from the profession and we support a number of initiatives to retain GPs who are considering leaving the profession, including support for GP appraisals, mentoring, and coaching as well as a new Stay in Practice Scheme.

The new GP contract and investment in multi-disciplinary teams will increase capacity in primary care allowing patients to be seen at the right time by the right person. It will help reduce GP workload, making the career even more attractive to new doctors.

Scotland’s first Graduate Entry Medicine programme (ScotGEM) also focusses on general practice and remote and rural working, and in addition to the return of service bursary, the Scottish Government will pay the tuition fees for eligible students, offering an attractive package for potential applicants.

We will invest and extra £5M before the end of this parliament as we look to grow the next generation of GPs by increase undergraduate training in primary care. We are working to deliver a more sustainable medical workforce - with the number of doctors in training increasing by more than 6% since 2007, and by 2020-21 we will have increased medical schools places by 22%.

Question reference: S5F-04054

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 16 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2020

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5F-04031

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2020

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5F-04004

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 02 March 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2020

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S5W-27493

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs have left Scotland to work (a) in the rest of the UK, (b) in an EU member state and (c) outside the EU in each of the last three years.

Question reference: S5W-27497

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 27 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) headcount and (b) full-time equivalent number of GPs has been on 31 January in each year since 2010, broken down by NHS board.

Question reference: S5W-27492

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 27 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many current GPs it expects will retire in the next (a) five and (b) 10 years.

GPs are independent contractors, therefore we do not hold the same level of data as for direct NHS employees.

Information on the age and gender of GPs is used in planning for the future GP workforce, in conjunction with information on leavers and joiners.

Our workforce planning takes account of the information available on those interested in re-entering or retiring from the profession and we support a number of initiatives to retain GPs who are considering leaving the profession, including support for GP appraisals, mentoring, and coaching as well as a new Stay in Practice Scheme.

We have a record number of GPs working in Scotland and are working to further increase the current numbers by at least 800 in the next 10 years.

Question reference: S5W-27495

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 February 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 27 February 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP practices there were on 31 January 2020, broken down by NHS board, and how this compares with 31 January 2010.

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