The BMA GP committee in Scotland has threatened to enter a ‘formal dispute’ with the Government over years of underfunding.
GPC Scotland chair Dr Iain Morrison said the union is ‘continuing to press’ the Scottish Government to ‘urgently address’ underfunding in general practice, but warned that ‘time is running out’.
He said that in a recent letter the BMA has put the Scottish Government on notice that the ‘current direction of travel’ is ‘leading towards formal dispute’.
It comes after Scottish LMCs representatives voted in favour of balloting the profession on industrial action last year, as a result of ‘years of disinvestment in general practice’ with financial cuts opposed to uplifts to GP partners pay.
The BMA believes £290m of extra funding will be required to deliver full funding restoration, which must first stabilise general practice and then grow the GP workforce to improve access and services for patients.
In a video shared on X, Dr Morrison said: ‘Without funding restoration, we will pursue a path of formal dispute which could ultimately lead to collective or industrial action.
‘If we need to follow that path, then we need you, GPs of Scotland, to help us. If you are not a member of the BMA, please join today. If you are a member of the public watching this, then we hope for your support and understanding.’
Dr Morrison also added that if the Government does not act it risks the end of general practice in Scotland ‘as we know it’.
He added: ‘We have put the Scottish Government on notice that the current direction of travel is leading us towards formal dispute, which the profession has told us is ultimately something they are prepared to do, if it is needed, to save general practice, and properly support the patients we care for in communities up and down Scotland.
‘This would be a very last resort and we want to work at pace with Government and do all we can to avoid going down that path. The rhetoric for the Government on this suggests they are listening, but action is now required.’
BMA Scotland has launched a new campaign which will include posters in GP surgeries explaining the issues, to help patients understand why they may be struggling to access general practice.
As part of the campaign, patients are also being urged to ‘stand with your surgery’ and back the call for general practice to receive more funding.
Dr Morrison added: ‘The funding we receive for every patient we care for has been eroded year after year against inflation since 2008. In all, eroded funding streams and new cost pressures have created a shortfall in practice funding of 22.8% when inflation is taken into account.
‘This means practices simply do not have the resources required to employ all the staff they need – and in particular GPs – at a time when demand is going up at a rapid rate.
‘We know that access to GPs is undeniably a real issue and patients can struggle to get an appointment at their surgery in a timely manner.
‘We share the frustration that many patients are currently feeling and we want to be able to deliver a service that we are proud of, rather than constantly apologising for.
‘This can only be achieved if urgent action is taken to address a £290m funding gap – around 1% of the Scottish NHS budget – to stabilise General Practice and begin the process of giving our patients the access they need and deserve.’
At the end of last year, Scottish GP leaders outlined a list of demands for the Government to meet in order to avoid industrial action, including GPs receiving 15% of the NHS budget and long-term contract reforms.
It pointed out that a ‘gross neglect’ of GMS ‘over many years’ has led to a crisis in general practice, and added that the proportion of NHS funding allocated to general practice must return to its previous level of 11%, with the ‘ultimate goal’ of reaching 15% of overall NHS spending.
The Scottish Government said they are in ‘regular dialogue’ with the BMA, and are giving ‘careful consideration’ to their recent letter.
A spokesperson told Pulse: ‘We welcome the BMA’s collaborative approach in working with us to transform healthcare in Scotland. GPs play a vital role in our health service, and we value the care that they provide to patients at a challenging time for the healthcare system.
‘We have increased investment in General Practice by £73.2 million in the last financial year and are determined to increase the number of GPs in Scotland by 800, by 2027, with an additional 307 GPs added since 2017.
‘Our renewed plan for the NHS will ensure that a greater proportion of new funding goes to primary and community care which will assist in supporting both GPs and also helping people to access GP services.’
