Question reference: S6W-15321
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 23 February 2023
-
Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 March 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with NHS Ayrshire and Arran following the Primary Care Out of Hours Workforce Survey 2022, published by Public Health Scotland on 14 February 2023, which found that the NHS board has reported a 6% decrease in the number of GPs working in out-of-hours services since 2019.
Answer
The Scottish Government has continuous engagement with Health Boards and has had recent contact with NHS Ayrshire & Arran on the provision of Out of Hours services.
The Board has advised that the medical workforce across Ayrshire Urgent Care Service (AUCS) has stabilised over recent years, establishing a core multi-disciplinary team using a mixed model of GP/Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) for Out of Hours patient care.
Despite the system wide pressures, NHS Ayrshire & Arran continue to deliver a primary care out of hours service for the provision of urgent care when GP Practices are closed. Although the figures published on 14 February 2023 report a decline in the number of GPs working in the service it is important to note that this service is now provided using a multi-disciplinary model which includes nurses, advanced nurse practitioners and paramedics.
It is also important to note the increased number of other professions which reflects that this service is now provided using a multi-disciplinary model which includes nurses, advanced nurse practitioners and paramedics.