Question reference: S6W-15328
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 23 February 2023
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Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 March 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde following the publication of the Primary Care Out of Hours Workforce Survey 2022 by Public Health Scotland on 14 February 2023, which found that the NHS board has reported a 27% decrease in the number of GPs working in out-of-hours services since 2019.
Answer
The Scottish Government has continuous contact with Health Boards and has recently engaged with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on the provision of their Out of Hours services.
Despite the system wide pressures, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde 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.
Additionally, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde has advised that in the past 6 months they have successfully recruited 15 salaried doctors to the Out Of Hours service. The Board has provided assurance that this will increase the level of stability going forward.