General Practice in Scotland is set to receive an additional £15 million investment this year, aimed at easing recruitment pressures, boosting service capacity, and supporting the day-to-day running of GP services.
The funding, announced following discussions with sector leaders, marks a significant step in addressing the sustainability of primary care and ensuring that GP practices can continue to meet growing patient demand. It forms part of wider efforts to shift care from acute settings into the community, in line with the NHS’s long-term strategy.
The investment will support:
- Workforce retention and recruitment, helping practices attract and retain skilled professionals
- Service expansion, enabling GPs to see more patients and reduce waiting times
- Operational support, improving the delivery of everyday services
Neil Gray, Scottish Health Secretary, said:
“We have been listening carefully to the views of Scotland’s GPs and as a result, I am pleased to confirm an initial additional investment of £15 million for the current financial year.
“This new funding will help support capacity and ensure GPs and services in the community have the resources they need for their essential role in our health system. We remain in negotiations with the sector on the provision of further support in the future, but this initial instalment demonstrates this Government’s commitment to supporting primary care and alleviating current pressures on the system.
“We want to make it easier for people to see their GP and to achieve this we are working towards ensuring a greater proportion of new NHS funding goes to primary and community care. We have already increased investment in general practice by over £100 million in the last two years to meet recommended pay increases and to support practices with sustainability.”
Negotiations are ongoing regarding further support measures, with the aim of strengthening community-based care and reducing pressure on hospitals.
This funding injection reflects the government’s commitment to bolstering primary care, recognising its vital role in delivering accessible, preventative healthcare across the country.
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