When can I see my GP face-to-face? MSPs debate Scottish NHS recovery from Covid-19
Scottish Tories push for a date to restart normal services
The Scottish Government will be urged to set a date for when GP services across Scotland can return to normal after Covid-19, with a warning about the reliance on telephone and video consultations.
The Scottish Tories are set to table a motion for debate which would seek to push the Health Secretary into providing a restart date for the return of all services in GP offices, including increasing the number of face-to-face consultations.
Glasgow GP-turned-MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane has said making this the default would result in medical conditions going undiagnosed, causing a "brutal domino effect'' which would result in greater pressure on the health service in the future.
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Video consultation should not be the default
"Thousands of people are facing lengthy waits just for an initial appointment because my GP colleagues are overwhelmed with more patients than ever before,'' Dr Gulhane said.
"The lack of a proper NHS recovery plan and the failure to deliver a network of long Covid clinics is putting frontline services under severe strain.
"Video consultations should not become the default for patients who need to be seen face-to-face. The SNP Government has to recognise that and start properly supporting GPs to restore services to normal as early as possible by getting hospital clinics and surgery waiting lists under control.''
The Scottish Government says it’s working with health boards to manage pressures.
Given the agreement between the SNP and the Greens, this motion is unlikely to be passed without Government support.