Scottish Government set to ‘break promise’ on recruiting GPs, say Lib Dems
Concerns were raised after the latest figures showed the whole time equivalent number of GPs working in Scotland increased by nine over a year.
Scotland’s whole-time equivalent total of GPs increased by just nine over the last year, figures have revealed.
Official data showed that, as of March 31 this year, there were 3,600.8 whole time equivalent (WTE) GPs working across the country – with this up by 0.3% from the 2025 total of 3,591.5.
In the wake of the statistics, the Liberal Democrats claimed that SNP ministers were “set to break their promise” to recruit hundreds of GPs.
In 2017, the Scottish Government pledged to take on an “at least” 800 additional family doctors over the course of the decade.
Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Adam Harley claimed: “People are finding it excruciatingly difficult to see a GP, largely because there are simply not enough staff.
“Now it looks like the SNP are set to break their promise to fix that fundamental problem.”
He spoke out as the figures showed the vacancy rate for GPs has increased, with 6.2% of positions unfilled as of March 31 2026, up from 3.8% 12 months before.
And the sickness absence rate for GPs increased to 2.2% over 2025-26, with this up from 1.8% the previous year – with the proportion of practices using locum staff rising from 82.9% to 92.1% over this period.
The 2026 GP workforce survey data also showed the number of nurses working in general practice fell by 4.2% to stand at 1,664.8 WTE – with the vacancy rate for nursing staff going from 2.8% in March 2025 to 5% in March 2026.
Mr Harley argued that rather than establishing new walk-in GP centres, the Scottish Government should be looking at “easing the burden on GPs”.
The Liberal Democrat MSP said: “The SNP are concentrating millions of pounds and Government time on walk-in centres, despite GPs making it very clear that these facilities won’t improve anything.
“The focus should be on easing the burden on GPs to free up their time and get everyone seen quicker.
“The best way to do that is by hiring more specialist staff in GP practices, enabling pharmacists to do more prescribing and investing in modern IT and digital systems.”
Health Secretary Angela Constance said: “The latest data shows GP numbers are continuing to go up.
“We are also increasing the number of planned, walk-in services to 40, complementing our existing network of GP practices, and making it easier for people to access GP-led care, seven days a week, without an appointment.
“This is part of our plan to offer patients greater choice and access, closer to home, and relieve pressure on hospitals and acute services – with historic additional investment of £531 million being provided over the next three years, supporting the recruitment of more GPs.”