Thousands of patients hit as surgeries hand back NHS contract

A RECORD number of GP practices are being forced to return their contracts to health boards over fears they cannot carry out NHS ‘obligations’.

Yesterday, the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) said 52 surgeries had done this, prompting fears for patient care.

More than 160,000 patients were registered with affected practices last year, up from 83,290 a decade ago.

Scottish Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs called it a ‘depressing indication of just how serious Scotland’s GP crisis has become’. He added: ‘The SNP has had more than a decade to ensure Scotland has a well-resourced, well-equipped GP set-up. Instead, dozens of practices are returning their contracts because they can’t meet their obligations.’

The RCGP warned that the number of surgeries classed as 2C – meaning they have returned their contracts – had soared. Chairman Miles Mack said: ‘RCGP is particularly concerned over the impact that changing to 2C has on patient care and on lost value for money in healthcare services.

‘In particular, it means that GPs are no longer in a leadership role and there is less continuity of care for patients.

‘Patients’ GP services have been the target of disinvestment for more than a decade, falling from 9.8 per cent of NHS Scotland’s spending in 2005/06 to only 7.2 per cent in 2015/16.’

Dr Mack called for action to help fill the projected shortfall of GPs in Scotland, which is predicted to reach 856 by 2021.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: ‘There are a variety of reasons why boards would take over the running of a GP practice. Boards have historically either had involvement in the running of, or provided some degree of support to, practices as part of their responsibility to ensure that everyone in Scotland has access to GP services.’

She said she was committed to providing a further £250million ‘in direct support of GPs’.

‘Can’t meet their obligations’