GPs enter dispute with Scottish Government in first step towards strikes
Scottish GPs have moved into formal dispute with the Scottish Government, the British Medical Association in Scotland has announced.
Doctors said 'enough is enough' as they took the first steps in preparation for a ballot on industrial action, such as striking.
'Today, the Scottish GPC (GP Committee) has written to the cabinet secretary for health and informed him we have entered into formal dispute with Scottish Government,' BMA Scotland leaders said.
'Legally, this is the next step in escalating our concerns in preparation for a ballot of the profession on taking disruptive action.
'I want to make it clear, no one wants this escalation to take place, and urgent talks with the cabinet secretary and Scottish Government continue to identify how they can work with us to provide full funding restoration and exit this dispute.'
In a BMA wellbeing survey, half of the practices questioned their sustainability, and 90% of the profession were willing to take disruptive action in response to the 'generation of neglect' of GP services.
The dispute comes down to what the professional association for GPs called the 'erosion' of funding provided to general practice since 2008.
The BMA Scotland said General Practice continues to face significant challenges delivering the core services doctors 'so dearly want to protect for our patients'.
The BMA hit out at the 'ridiculous paradox' of being forced to look at what hours can be cut from practices to balance the books at a time of 'more demand on services than ever'.
'The impact this is having on the locum market and job opportunities, especially for our newly qualified GPs is shockingly stark,' BMA Scotland said.
'These are the exact reasons we have launched our Stand with your Surgery Campaign and called for £290m full funding restoration to come direct to GP practices.'
The BMA said GPs need this funding to 'stabilise the situation and employ more GPs to meet demand'.
'It will provide the foundations from which we can then begin to look to a brighter future for our practices and our patients,' the letter stated.
The Scottish GP Committee of the BMA, on the back of the results and lack of progress in negotiations, have voted unanimously to enter a formal dispute with the Scottish Government.
'We have been told, time and time again, that resource must shift to the community, but with no attempt to even begin to plug the £290m gap in 2025/26 the lack of action to support the rhetoric continues,' the letter from the BMA stated.
The BMA slammed the Scottish Government for accepting the Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration (DDRB) report while 'neglecting' the inflation of staff and non-staff costs for GPs.
'[It] means no practice in Scotland will be able to deliver upon the recommendations without impacting on services or Partners' bearing the cost, with little hope to realise the sub-inflationary pay uplift. Enough is enough,' BMA Scotland said.
The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.
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Daily Mail
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Edinburgh Reporter
4 hours ago
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'Our funding started to be broadened out, and it's helping us to minimise the pain due to the current crisis. The contribution that was provided during the last two to three years is helping us to save jobs. We are seeing this as an opportunity. It's a crisis but as an opportunity we will emerge better.' In this imposing building looking down on the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh there is pioneering work taking place with researchers leveraging artificial intelligence to improve surgical outcomes and scientists exploring diagnostic potential through routine retina imaging. WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus L-R The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP Secretary of State for Scotland, Maree Todd MSP. Minister for Drug and Alcohol Policy and Sport and WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus who officially opened the Usher Building Some of the 900 academics and researchers who work in the building at the official launch The Rt Hon Ian Murray Secretary of State for Scotland Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh speaking to members of the Usher family on the left of the photo Like this: Like Related
