Cole-Hamilton responds to GP workforce decline

Responding to new NHS workforce figures for general practice which show that the number of fully qualified GPs working in Scotland has declined for the second year in a row, falling from 4,514 in 2022 to 4,474 in 2023, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:  

“The rumbling workforce crisis in general practice has been sharpened by years of cuts and mismanagement under successive SNP governments.  

“GPs have some of the highest levels of burnout in the health service, so in many ways these shortages are unsurprising. They can only be pushed so far.  

“It is high time that the Health Secretary completely overhauls his predecessor’s failed recovery plan and replaces it with one that has recruitment and retention at its core. Scottish Liberal Democrats would increase the number of training places for GPs, introduce an urgent plan to tackle burnout and launch a staff assembly that values their expertise.”