We are keen on a more detailed explanation as to why you now need to go elsewhere, and potentially wait longer, to receive some of the services you may previously have received at our practice.
The national 2018 Scottish GP contract began a process of reform that would see Health Boards centrally provide some services that were previously the responsibility of GP practices. These services included phlebotomy (taking bloods), chronic disease monitoring (including hypertension), treating minor injuries, removing sutures, dressing wounds and ear wax management.
Additionally, various activities related to prescribing also moved to provision by the Health Board along with vaccinations which are now largely provided by Health Boards. The intention behind this reform was to reduce GP practice workload to stabilise general practice and to allow GPs and their teams increased time to provide care to more complex patients and disease presentations.
Transfer of contractual responsibility for these services took place in May 2022, but as the Health Board services were inadequate, GP practices were commissioned to continue filling gaps in what the Board could provide until 1 April 2023.
As our previous arrangement with the Health Board has now expired and Scottish Government has chosen not to commission General Practice to continue filling these gaps, it is now largely up to the Health Board to provide you with access to these services centrally. Unfortunately, this is likely to mean longer waits to access services than you may have been used to, until such time as the Board is able to increase its capacity.
Our practice will continue to provide the services listed above to patients where they need treated immediately to prevent injury or the worsening of their condition, but this is a limited safety net to avoid harm to patients.
We are sure that these changes are likely to be frustrating and everyone at our practice shares this frustration with you. We would have done our best in difficult circumstances to continue to meet the shortfall in Health Board services to ensure you receive an appropriate service, but this requires resources that the Scottish Government was unwilling to provide this year.
You may wish to contact your local MSPs to point out the effect of Scottish Government’s decision and the impact it will have on you and patients like you. You can find out how to contact them by entering your postcode at:
https://www.parliament.scot/msps
