BMA's Scottish GP Committee elects new chair

An LMC leader and GP partner has been elected as the new chair of the BMA’s GP committee for Scotland.

Dr Iain Morrison, who has been Lothian LMC’s chair since October 2020, will succeed Dr Andrew Buist who is stepping down after six years in the role.

In a message to members, Dr Morrison, who is a GP partner at Newbattle Medical Centre, in Midlothian, said it was an ‘incredible honour’ to be elected the new chair of GPC Scotland.

He said: ‘I have genuine optimism, that by working together as a community of active GPs, we can look forward to significantly better times ahead. General practice is the answer to safeguarding free and effective healthcare for all.

‘But it is also true that we face huge challenges and it will be difficult to realise the potential we have during these times when we are being regularly told just how tight public finances are.

‘However, what we will be making abundantly clear, is that when money is thin on the ground, if you need to get the most from it, you must invest directly into general practice.

‘We are not only the bedrock of the NHS but exceptionally economically productive and cost effective given the breadth and quality of care we provide.’

However, he said that Scotland ‘simply do not have enough GPs to meet demand’.

‘It is clear that we need a fresh approach to help move us forward and reinvigorate our profession,’ Dr Morrison added.

‘The 2018 contract, despite significant investment, has failed to make our working lives substantially better and allow us to realise our true potential.’

He said that the new SGPC leadership team will approach forging ‘a positive relationship’ with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders.

Dr Morrison joined Newbattle Medical Group as a partner in October 2009, after completing his general practice training in Ayrshire. He has an interest on men’s health, cardiology and oncology.

Dr Buist stepped down as chair of GPC Scotland earlier this month and in a message, he said he also stood down as a partner from his practice in Blairgowrie.

He added: ‘I’m not done yet with clinical work as I am planning on doing locums in some remote parts of Scotland for the next wee while.’

Meanwhile, GP practices in the devolved nations are still in the dark about how the 6% pay uplift will be allocated by their governments.

GPC Scotland said their Government has not yet reached an agreement but was trying to establish the final sum of money that will be made available to fund the 7.4% global sum uplift in England.

The Scottish Government will then know how much money the devolved nations will receive via the Barnett formula.