GPs in Scotland make progress in contract talks

Demoralised Scottish GPs are optimistic that improved primary
care will result from current contract negotiations with the
Scottish executive.

The Scottish general practitioners committee representing all of
Scotland’s 3,800 GPs, has welcomed progress in its
negotiations with the Scottish executive towards a new national GP
contract. Dr Kenneth Harden, committee chairperson, said: “GPs have
become very demoralised in recent years as continual increases in
workload have meant they are unable to deliver the improvements in
patient care we all want to see.”

As the UK general practitioners committee announced a ballot of
all GPs over possible resignation from their NHS contracts, the
situation in Scotland seems much more positive. Dr Harden added:
“In Scotland, we have recently made progress in our discussion with
the Scottish executive, who have publicly acknowledged the problems
facing primary care.”