Chamber and committees

The Practice has been operating a reduced service since August 2019 due to ongoing GP recruitment issues. The Scottish Government has spoken with the HSCP and they have advised they have looked at many ways to reduce the pressure on the Practice and make it more attractive to new GPs. Appointments were triaged, a nurse was trained to deal with minor ailments, online systems were put in place for prescriptions and video consultations were used. The Practice also benefited from staff supplied by the Health Board including a phlebotomist and pharmacist. After monitoring attendance at the branch for a number of months the decision was made that it was no longer viable to continue to offer appointments out of the Salsburgh branch. Arrangements have been put in place to ensure Patients who previously attended the Salsburgh branch surgery are registered with the main Practice in Chapelhall. Patients will continue to access clinical services in Chapelhall. This offers patients a wider variety of access to other health professionals that they would not be able to access at the Salsburgh surgery, in line with the new GP contract that patients access the right person at the right place at the right time.

The majority of GP practices in Scotland are independent bodies who have been contracted to deliver services to the NHS and, while we expect satisfactory systems to be in place for the benefit of all patients, it is for GPs to decide what arrangements most suit their patients.

We have a record number of GPs working in Scotland, with more GPs per head than the rest of UK – and we are increasing the number by at least 800 over the period 2017 - 2027.