John Mason MSP (Glasgow Shettleston) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to encourage GPs to open surgeries for longer hours.
(S4W-15123)
Mr Alex Neil MSP (Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing): The Scottish Government is investing approximately £12 million annually in an enhanced service arrangement to extend GP surgery opening hours beyond core hours. Participation in enhanced services are optional for GP practices and in 2012 we introduced more flexible scheme arrangements to encourage even more GP practices to offer extended hours.
Practice participation in the revised scheme averaged 80.5% across the country in 2012 increasing from 73.5% in 2011. The 2012 participation figure for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s GP practices was 83.5% compared to 76.3% in the previous year.
As part of the successfully negotiated General Medical Services contract settlement for 2013-14 we have an agreed commitment from the Scottish General Practitioners’ Committee to review GP access and we will be exploring ways to improve these arrangements in the year ahead.