An Aberdeen doctors surgery has begun reaching out to others for a potential merger, amid concern it’s close to “going under”.
Practices across the country have been experiencing a GP recruitment crisis for years, with the pressures even more prominent amid the pandemic.
Recently, several north-east surgeries have had to shake up their structure, go private or shut altogether.
And now GPs at Great Western Medical Practice say they’re working hard to ensure the “future sustainability” of the centre.
What does this mean for patients?
As it stands, Great Western has around 10,000 patients on its books.
But its GPs say nothing immediate will change for them, with patients’ health and wellbeing still their top priority.
However, they’ve also been asked not to contact the practice for more information, as “staff will not be able to comment further”.
A statement from the Great Western GPs said: “As soon as we have any further information to share, we will inform our patients as a matter of priority.”
What has happened at other GP surgeries?
Similar scenes have played out at other north-east clinics in recent years.
At the end of 2021 it was announced Carden Medical Centre would be closing, with its 8,600 patients transferred elsewhere in the city.
This was prompted by ongoing struggles to recruit GPs, as bosses said it was unsafe for the practice to keep relying on locum doctors.
And at the start of this month, OneMedical Group, River Dee Medical Group and Newburn took over the running of four practices in Aberdeen.
Around 90% of the country’s surgeries are operated by partnerships like this, and patients have been assured they’ll keep the same access to their doctors.
While the management structure has changed, it’s unlikely people will notice any differences when accessing services.
GP staff ‘demoralised and fearful’
In 2017 the Scottish Government vowed to create 800 new GP positions in the country.
There are currently a record number of doctors in these roles, with more per person than anywhere else in the UK.
But North East Scottish Conservative MSP Liam Kerr says the recruitment issues still remain – with changes at the likes of Great Western likely leaving GPs even more stressed than usual.
“More GPs trying to merge is only a short-term fix to a major problem which won’t go away,” he said.
“I’ve spoken to GPs who talk about practices where staff are demoralised and fearful because they can’t provide the level of care they want to.
“This must weigh heavily on them and it isn’t their fault.”