Consequences for NHS capacity Diverting prescribers from the NHS into mandatory private-sector compliance roles presents a serious unintended consequence. • Scotland already faces GP and nurse workforce shortages, acknowledged repeatedly by Audit Scotland and the Scottish Government. • If prescribers are financially incentivised to spend additional time physically present in private aesthetic clinics, this may: o reduce NHS appointment availability, o increase waiting times, o and exacerbate pressure on primary care services.