BMA chief warns Scotland's GPs are at 'tipping point'

GP surgeries across Scotland are at risk of collapsing because of staff shortages and increased demand, a senior doctor has warned.

Dr Andrew Buist, chairman of the British Medical Association's (BMA) Scottish GP committee, told the BBC many practices were at "tipping point".

More than a third of surveyed surgeries reported at least one GP vacancy – up from just over a quarter last year.

About half of the GP surgeries in Scotland took part in the BMA survey.

It showed 81% of practices said demand was exceeding capacity - with 42% saying demand substantially exceeded capacity.

Dr Buist told BBC Scotland: "I worry that we're reaching a tipping point for some practices.

"They lose one or maybe two doctors out of three, and the remaining doctors cannot continue so they return the contract and the practice may cease to exist.

"That is a real concern in some parts of Scotland that that is happening and it's going to happen increasingly as the situation develops over this winter."

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Source: BBC News, 15 November 2022