GP leaders in Scotland have welcomed a £15m funding increase for general practice but warned more needed to be done.

The Scottish Government said the initial additional investment for the current financial year would ease recruitment pressures and boost capacity.

The announcement followed discussions with BMA Scotland about sustainability of GP services. Health secretary Neil Grey said negotiations would continue on further support to help shift care from acute services to the community.

Iain Morrison, chair of BMA Scotland’s GP committee, said the immediate investment would help alleviate some of the recruitment and retention issues plaguing GP practices and harming patients' access to healthcare.

‘We see this as a positive move by government to acknowledge the issues we have described in our ongoing negotiations to rescue general practice. Our negotiations continue with a view to stabilising and then improving GP services across the nation.’

Funding gap

General gractice in Scotland has seen funding erosion and cost pressures generate a funding gap of £290m, said Dr Morrison, adding that this must be restored.

‘It is only by closing this substantial gap that patients will see long-term, sustainable improvements in access to GPs and the care we are able to provide to them. On that basis, we urge the Scottish Government to build on this and come forward with a substantial offer of new long-term funding that will put general practice in Scotland on a more sustainable footing.’

Mr Gray said this ‘initial instalment’ demonstrates the Scottish Government’s commitment to supporting primary care and alleviating pressures on the system.

‘We want to make it easier for people to see their GP and to achieve this we are working towards ensuring a greater proportion of new NHS funding goes to primary and community care. We have already increased investment in general practice by over £100m in the last two years to meet recommended pay increases and to support practices with sustainability.’