Stalled GP numbers in Moray despite a patient increase of 1200
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DESPITE an influx of more than 1200 new patients in recent years, the number of general practitioners (GPs) working in Moray has not increased significantly.
According to data obtained through a Freedom of Information request by Moray MP Douglas Ross, there are currently 79 partner and salary GPs in Moray. This has increased from 76 GP's in 2022, but is still four fewer than in 2020 despite patient numbers rising from 97,238 in 2019 to 98,439 in the current year. These figures, however, do not include locum doctors who work regularly in the area.
The statistics also comes amid the controversial decision to close GP surgeries in the villages of Hopeman and Burghead, despite opposition from local residents, who have spoken of the difficulties they have faced in accessing essential healthcare services.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “Patients in Burghead and Hopeman have seen first-hand the devastating effects of the failure to recruit enough GPs to work in Moray. I have been proud to stand alongside local campaigners fighting the decision to close their surgeries.
“Now these figures only confirm the damaging impact of those failures with the fact that GP levels across Moray remain at the same levels as they were in 2021, despite a significant increase in the number of patients registered in Moray.
“That is only putting more pressure on existing GPs who have been pushed to breaking point and simply cannot meet patient demand.
“As we head towards 2024, there is a real risk that more GP practices in Moray will close and patients will not be able to access services in their local community.”
Mr Ross also urged the current Health Secretary, Michael Matheson, to redouble efforts to address the shortage of GPs in Moray.
A spokeswoman from NHS Grampian said: "The challenge of recruitment and retention across the UK is well documented - often those gaps can be felt more in our rural areas.
"However, in Grampian we have started some exciting work to look at a new vision for general practice in the region that we hope will attract GPs and other key primary care staff to come and work here."
