Murdo Fraser MSP has backed his party’s plans to boost the number of GPs in rural areas.
His call comes after the Scottish Conservative Party launched their proposals to coincide with their recent annual conference. The plans have been jointly put together by the shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane and the shadow rural affairs secretary Rachael Hamilton, in response to the GP crisis that is occurring on the SNP’s watch.
Mr Fraser says the problems for patients trying to see their GP – and in turn doctors meeting patient demand – is particularly acute in rural areas such as Mid Scotland and Fife. Included in the policy proposals from the Scottish Conservatives are plans that would see alternative pathways to primary care – such as pharmacies and optometrists – fully utilised in rural areas.
The Scottish Conservative Party are also urging greater recruitment of allied health professionals in rural areas – alongside extra GPs – to bolster primary care in Mid Scotland and Fife. This would involve upscaling training opportunities for allied health professionals so they can be fully integrated into rural healthcare provision in the region.
Mr Fraser says that the SNP’s appalling workforce planning has led to the shortage of GPs and rural and remote areas have paid the price the most.
Commenting, he said: “The SNP’s dire workforce planning has resulted in a shortage of GPs across the country, and that has been particularly prevalent in rural and remote areas like Mid Scotland and Fife. That is why I am delighted to back plans put forward by my party to help improve the situation for patients and local health services.
“Successive SNP health secretaries have failed to make the most of alternative pathways to primary care for patients – such as pharmacists and optometrists – which can help ease the pressure on GPs.
“A lack of housing in rural areas of Mid Scotland and Fife has also had a major impact in attracting enough GPs to come and work there. There must be a renewed focus on building homes in rural areas, specifically suitable for GPs to make a permanent base here.
“Only the Scottish Conservatives are standing up for the real priorities of rural Scotland and my constituents in Mid Scotland and Fife, and the proposal to boost the number of GPs forms just a part of that.”
