The general practitioners committee Scotland represents all GPs working in Scotland, including partners, salaried GPs and locums. We consider and act on matters affecting GPs in Scotland - including contractual matters.
The committee meets five times a year and has representatives from all 14 health board areas in Scotland. We also work closely with other BMA committees to represent GPs at a UK level.
Our priorities
2018 GMS contract
On 1 April 2018 the new Scottish GMS contract was launched following three years of negotiations with Scottish Government, and a poll of the profession. The aims of the contract are to relieve the unsustainable workload facing general practice and reduce the business risks of becoming a GP.
Read about the Scottish GP contract
Workforce
The Scottish Government has published a workforce plan for primary care, the 'National Health and Social Care Workforce Plan Part 3 - Improving workforce planning for primary care in Scotland'. This document states the intention to recruit an additional 800 GPs as well as building and extending roles for a range of professionals working in primary care.
Responding to the plan, former chair of SGPC Alan McDevitt said: "The new GP contract is now being implemented across Scotland and it is essential that multidisciplinary teams are able to start developing their capacity and extend their roles as soon as possible to enable them to support practices effectively. I look forward to seeing the integrated update in September and would urge the Scottish government to be bold in its endeavour to make Scotland’s primary care workforce fit for the future."
Closing your patient list
GMS practices in Scotland can apply formally to close the practice list if their workload is jeopardising their ability to provide safe care for their registered patients.
Read our guidance on closing your patient list
Our people
GPC Scotland has 49 members, the majority of these (32) are appointed by the LMCs (local medical committees) in Scotland. Other GPs are elected onto the committee via GPC UK, UK LMC conference, and ARM.
The committee also has representation from other BMA committees (such as the sessional GPs committee, the GP trainees committee, Scottish council, and the Scottish consultants committee), and external committees such as RCGP Scotland, Medical Practitioners Union and the Scottish Dental Practice Committee of the British Dental Association.
The committee can choose to co-opt members each session if they want to add particular expertise to the committee – for the 2019/20 session the committee co-opted Dr John Kyle for his experience as a doctor in his first five years post training, and Dr Chris Williams for his experience and knowledge in IT and role in the Scottish Joint GP IT Group.
Chair: Andrew Buist
Deputy chairs:
Andrew Cowie
Patricia Moultrie
Our meetings
GPC Scotland meets five times a year to discuss the latest issues facing general practice in Scotland. These meetings are open to members of GPC Scotland only, but non-members can apply for the BMA committee visitors scheme.
Upcoming sessions:
- Thursday 18 June 2020
All meetings take place from 10.30am to 5pm at:
BMA Scotland
14 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1LL
For more information about our meetings, please email Mhairi Weatherston ([email protected]) or call 0131 247 3003.
Get in touch
If you are interested in finding out more about the work of the SGPC, email [email protected].