Scotland health SHAMBLES: Thousands 'left without GP access outside surgery hours'
THOUSANDS of Scots have been left without access to a GP outside surgery hours because of staff shortages, a study has suggested.
It found one in eight night and weekend shifts left unfilled over a seven-day period earlier this year.
The research comes amid a recruitment crisis with a record number of GPs quitting their practices and handing control over to the NHS.
Critics have repeatedly warned SNP ministers’ failure to tackle the problem risks leaving patients with inferior care.
And today in a further sign of pressure on the creaking NHS, a cash-strapped health board announced it was suspending non-urgent operations over Christmas and New Year.
The NHS is on its knees in a number of areas
NHS Tayside, which is in the constituency of Health Secretary Shona Robison, blamed an expected festive surge in “unplanned admissions” for the “step-down”.
Opposition MSPs have urged the Scottish Government to do more to avert a winter crisis.
Tories have warned of “severe” consequences if out-of-hours GP shifts continue to go unfilled in the coming months.
Figures, obtained through freedom of information requests, show that in the week starting May 22, 12.8 per cent were vacant.
Sturgeon praises Scottish NHS for delivering on targets
The alarming snapshot found big gaps across the country with NHS Forth Valley recording the highest at 26 per cent, followed by NHS Ayrshire and Arran (16.4 per cent) and NHS Lanarkshire (11.6 per cent).
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs hit out at the SNP’s “disastrous” workforce planning and ramped up calls for more cash to be spent on primary care services.
He said: “The NHS is on its knees in a number of areas, but that is particularly apparent in local GP practices.
“It means patients can’t get the help they need, and the hardworking doctors left behind are becoming increasingly over-stretched.
“And with the winter months well on their way, this crisis could have even more severe consequences.
“The SNP government has let it get to this stage, and now has to explain to patients north of the Border what it is going to do to address it.”
NHS Forth Valley does not provide out-of-hours services in GP surgeries but in health centres, hubs or hospitals.
A spokesman said: “We did experience challenges in providing medical cover for our primary care out-of-hours services earlier in the year, however the situation has improved over the last few months.”
Last month doctors leaders warned that GP services are in the midst of the worst crisis for a generation.
The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Scotland said that 52 practices had been transferred over to the local health service after GPs, who usually run their surgeries as self-employed contractors, felt unable to meet their obligations.
The RCGP also projected a shortfall of 856 family doctors by 2021, up on previous estimates.
Meanwhile, NHS Tayside - which faces a funding shortfall of almost £50 million this year - said it was putting on hold planned procedures” at Perth Royal Infirmary, Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and Stracathro Hospital, near Brechin in Angus, from December 18 through to January 8 next year. Officials insisted emergency surgery, urgent procedures and all cancer surgeries would still be carried out.
A spokeswoman said: “Every winter NHS Tayside, along with all other health board areas, experiences an increase in unplanned admissions which in previous years has meant the step-down at short notice of patients’ planned treatments, which we know is very distressing for patients, their families and disruptive for our staff.
“Patients are also more likely to choose not to come in for their procedure over the festive time as they have family commitments.
“Procedures which have been planned to go ahead are often cancelled by patients at the last minute as they feel they are unable to come in over the festive period.”
Earlier this year a team of troubleshooters were sent in to NHS Tayside in an effort to stabilise its finances and protect patient care.
The board has needed a £37.5 million bailout from the Scottish Government over the past five years.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "NHS staffing has increased by almost 12,000 under this government.
"We recognise the particular challenges faced by out-of-hours services and remain committed to having a high-quality service which fully meets patient needs.
"That is why we invested £10million last year and are providing further investment as part of the £23million Primary Care Transformation Fund this year."