Why is your GP Practice so Pressured?

There is a sustainability crisis in general practice. 

BMA Scotland’s GP Sustainability Dashboard.

GP numbers are falling

The Scottish Government promised 800 new GPs. However, the numbers are actually reducing. From 2013 to 2023, the GP whole time equivalent workforce has fallen by 5.35% – a fall of 196.7 WTE GPs.

Lack of investment in GP practice premises 

The lack of improvement grants; the Scottish Government’s failure to deliver on lease assignations; the pausing of the Sustainability Loan Scheme have all contributed to problems in general practice. 

Falling Share of NHS Budget for General Practice

Over the past twenty years, the share of the NHS budget for general practice has declined. 

There is a workload crisis in general practice.

BMA Scotland has produced Safe Workload Guidance for GPs.

GP practice numbers are falling

The number of GP practices providing services to patients in Scotland has reduced from 997 in 2012 to 889 practices in 2024, a fall of nearly 11%.

High levels of GP practice vacancies

42% of practices in Scotland report at least one GP vacancy. The number of GP partners reduced by 14% between 2012 and 2022.

Increasing patient contacts with general practice 

The reasons for this are multiple, and include an ageing population, and more people with long term conditions and more complex care.

Increasing population

There are 451,122 more patients registered with GP practices in Scotland in 2024 than there were in 2012.

Scottish Government’s failure to deliver 2018 GMS Contract

The PCIP services and the extended MDT team are not as developed as they should be. The Scottish Government’s funding for this is stagnating. Practices are therefore having to undertake work on an unfunded basis.

Insufficient GMS Funding Uplifts

Successive years of under funding to general practice for the DDRB award, staff pay uplifts, and non-staff expenses has increased the financial pressures on practices.

No electronic prescriptions

Lack of progress on delivering electronic prescribing- a key Scottish Government commitment. Scotland is the only part of Great Britain without electronic prescribing.