BMA Scotland has today announced Dr Iain Morrison is the new chair of the Scottish general practice committee (SGPC).

Following an election, Dr Morrison has taken over from Dr Andrew Buist who has stepped down after six years in the role. He is part of a new elected office bearer team, with Dr Al Miles and Dr Chris Black taking up the roles of deputy chairs of SGPC.

Dr Morrison has been a member of the SGPC for 8 years and chair of Lothian LMC since October 2020. He is a GP Partner in Midlothian, having joined Newbattle Medical Practice in 2009. 

Speaking as he takes up the role of SGPC chair, Dr Morrison warned there is not enough GPs to meet demand, and not enough progress is being made to rectify this.  He said a priority will be restoring the satisfaction of working in the profession, which has been eroded by trying to meet this “crippling demand”.

He also said there must be direct investment into general practice, even in challenging times for public finances, as it is the “bedrock” of the NHS.

Dr Morrison said: “It is an incredible honour to be elected the new Chair of SGPC. I have genuine optimism, that by working together as a community of active GPs, we can look forward to significantly better times ahead. General Practice is the answer to safeguarding free and effective healthcare for all. 

“But it is also true that we face huge challenges and it will be difficult to realise the potential we have during these times when we are being regularly told just how tight public finances are. However, what we will be making abundantly clear, is that when money is thin on the ground, if you need to get the most from it, you must invest directly into General Practice. We are not only the bedrock of the NHS but exceptionally economically productive and cost effective given the breadth and quality of care we provide. 

“Despite this however, we simply do not have enough GPs to meet demand and the trends in our workforce indicate that we are not making the progress we need to rectify this. Indeed, things are getting worse rather than better. It is clear that we need a fresh approach to help move us forward and reinvigorate our profession. The 2018 contract, despite significant investment, has failed to make our working lives substantially better and allow us to realise our true potential.”

He added: “At its heart, this is about celebrating the value of General Practice and GPs. The multidisciplinary team (MDT) model, where other members of the team take on roles traditionally performed by GPs, is helpful in a supportive framework but it should not be seen as a replacement for the core work of GPs. It is on this basis that myself and the new SGPC leadership team will approach forging a positive relationship with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders.  

“But most of all, I look forward to working with GPs across Scotland. Confidence has been eroded and attempting to meet crippling demand has made the job less satisfying and lacking joy. This does not need to be the case. We still have substantial autonomy to make things better ourselves. It is imperative that we protect the profession with the BMA workload guidance, and start to capture the true amount of time it takes to do the job we should be proud of. Restoring this pride for our work is right at the top of my priorities and I can’t wait to get started.” 

Notes to editors

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.