Health Secretary welcomes GP figures

The number of direct encounters with general practice staff has increased by around 7.6%, figures from Public Health Scotland have shown.

Patients in Scotland had 33.98 million direct encounters with staff in general practice between October 2024 and September this year – an increase of 2.4 million compared with the same time the year before.

Public Health Scotland said direct encounters with GP staff include face-to-face appointments as well as telephone consultations.

The data follows the announcement by the Scottish Government that it would invest another £531 million in GP services.

The BMA described the funding as a “significant step in the right direction” and suggested it could have taken industrial action if an agreement with the Government was not reached.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “We are determined to improve access to primary care, and I welcome these figures which show more people are accessing care at their GP surgery.

“I am grateful to our hard-working GPs and all practice staff for the care they provide.

“And while GP numbers have risen in Scotland over the last year, we have put a plan in place to go further.

“We have confirmed that we will invest £531 million over the next three years to significantly boost recruitment and help deliver the capacity needed to improve services for patients.

“This is the largest-ever investment in core GP services in Scotland.

“This will be supported by our commitment to open 15 new GP walk-in centres providing care from 12pm-8pm seven days per week, making it easier for people to get the care they need in a way that works for them.”