GP encounters with patients ‘continue to plummet’ – Tories

The Conservatives have said the number of direct encounters between GPs and patients “continuing to plummet on the SNP’s watch”.

Figures for February showed 1,374,548 direct encounters between GPs and patients.

At the weekend, the party highlighted figures showing there were 1,469,858 GP encounters in January, a decrease from the same time the previous year.

Public Health Scotland’s (PHS) data also showed direct GP appointments per 1,000 patients dropped by 1.7% between January and February.

Direct encounters are classed as involved face-to-face or virtual contact with a GP, whereas indirect encounters involve reviewing prescriptions and administrative tasks.

Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP said: “The SNP’s disastrous handling of Scotland’s NHS means patients continue to face a fight just to try and see their GP.

“The number of direct encounters is continuing to plummet on the SNP’s watch, yet they are continuing to impose damaging cuts on primary care and breaking the promises they have mad.

“(Health Secretary) Neil Gray’s latest plan for our NHS offers nothing new and will not make any difference in helping GPs to meet the demand from suffering patients.

“Under the SNP, GP practice is being pushed to the point of collapse. It is time for ministers to ensure money is getting to the frontline, rather than being squandered on pointless backroom bureaucracy.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “All local NHS boards should ensure general practice services continue to be provided to all patients. Patients should always be able to see a GP.

“GPs play a vital role in our health service, and we have increased investment in general practice by £73.2 million this financial year and are determined to increase the number of GPs in Scotland by 800, by 2027, with an additional 307 GPs added since 2017.