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22 April 2015

RCPE Comment on Projected GP Shortages in Scotland

Prof Derek Bell, President, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said,

 “The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh is sympathetic to the concerns highlighted today by the Royal College of General Practitioners (Scotland) regarding the projected shortfall of GPs in Scotland by 2020. Most importantly, we are aware of the potential impact of this upon patients and the additional pressure this will put on hospital services. At a time when we share ambitions to improve services across the 7 day week such gaps in the workforce are deeply troubling.

“However, challenges in recruiting the next generation of doctors are not restricted to General Practice. Increasing difficulties are being experienced around the country in recruiting into the medical specialties at both trainee and consultant level, and the NHS continues to rely heavily on locums to fill these gaps. Similar difficulties have also been reported in Emergency Medicine and in nursing.

“If we are to provide a sustainable medical workforce capable of supporting the care needs of our ageing population, we have to develop a more joined up and collaborative approach to making careers within the NHS more attractive and to workforce planning across the professions. Tackling one part of the workforce in isolation will not work and may simply worsen provision in other professions”.

ENDS

Contact: Graeme McAlister on 0131-247-3693 or 07733-263453