Figures from the NHS show that 10 per cent of the most deprived postcodes in Scotland receive just £3.79 more per patient than those in the least deprived
THE SCOTTISH GREENS are urging the Scottish health secretary to target GP spending in the most deprived areas in Scotland.
Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone has written to Shona Robison to outline how GP practices in the most deprived areas only receive £3.79 more per patient than those in the wealthier areas.
The Scottish Green health spokesperson said: “GPs in the most deprived areas of Scotland are not adequately resourced and we need the government to do more to help improve access to general practice in those areas, where GPs have longer lists, patients have more complex health needs and a lower ‘healthy life expectancy’ compared to patients in less deprived areas.
“I am very concerned about recent figures showing that GP practices in the most deprived 10 per cent of postcodes receive just £3.79 more per patient than those in the least deprived.
“We need the government to do more to help improve access to general practice in those areas, where GPs have longer lists, patients have more complex health needs and a lower ‘healthy life expectancy’ compared to patients in less deprived areas.” Alison Johnstone
“This cannot adequately allow GPs to address unmet need and respond to complex health problems.
“What is even more concerning is that practices in the most deprived 20 per cent of postcodes actually receive £1.34 less per patient than those in the least deprived 20 per cent.”
Figures released from the NHS in Scotland show that 1.3 million people from the most deprived areas across the country receive £260.62 per person for funding of GP services in their local area, compared to 830,000 people from the least deprived areas receiving an average of £261.96 per person.
In 2015/16, NHSScotland paid out £753.9m to the 984 GP services providers across Scotland.
In 2015/16, NHSScotland paid out £753.9m to the 984 GP services providers across Scotland.
In Scotland, there are three different types of GPs and the payments to each of these practice types can variey.
Firstly, a GP can run a general medical services contracted practice for which NHS Scotland pays. In 2015/16, the NHS paid £611.9m to run the 795 practices across the country.
Other contracts that NHS Scotland will have with GPs include practitioners running a locally negotiated contracted service, which GPs run on behalf of the NHS Board.
NHS Scotland paid out £110.1m to the 129 GP locally negotiated contracted services and £31.9m to the 60 NHS Board-run practices in 2015/16.
Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robison told CommonSpace that the Scottish Government is determined to tackle health inequality by committing an extra £500m in primary and GP care by 2021.
Figures released from the NHS in Scotland show that 1.3 million people from the most deprived areas across the country receive £260.62 per person for funding of GP services in their local area, compared to 830,000 people from the least deprived areas receiving an average of £261.96 per person.
Robison said: “We are also funding the Links Worker pilot programme in Dundee and Glasgow, which is right on the frontline of the battle against health inequalities.
“The programme provides a dedicated individual working in GP surgeries to support people one-to-one to address issues such as poverty, debt and isolation which are making them feel unwell.
“Over the next five years, we will increase the number of community links workers in disadvantaged areas to 250.”
Alison Johnstone is also calling for a fairer funding model that will allow GP’s to “have longer consultation with their patients”.
“Over the next five years, we will increase the number of community links workers in disadvantaged areas to 250 [to help battle against health inequalities].” Shona Robison
The Lothian MSP said: “Greens believe the way that funding is distributed directly to GPs should change so that GPs in more deprived areas receive a greater share of funding.
“I am also conscious that many practices, particularly those in remote and rural areas, which are not in areas of high deprivation are also struggling.
“I know that the Scottish Government is committed to a review of the Scottish Allocation Formula and we would wish that review to lead to a revised formula which results in increased allocations to practices in deprived areas.”
Robison said: “Adjusting the Scottish Allocation Formula might also help to tackle health inequalities.
“I know that the Scottish Government is committed to a review of the Scottish Allocation Formula and we would wish that review to lead to a revised formula which results in increased allocations to practices in deprived areas.” Alison Johnstone
“The formula has been reviewed, and we are currently considering the potential impact of implementing the review findings at individual GP practice level.”
Johnstone went on to say that “fairer funding for these patients would help GPs to have longer consultation with their patients, as the results of a recent BMA survey calls for”.
The British Medical Association (BMA) recently conducted a survey of 900 GPs across Scotland found that just over half believe that they should have longer consultations, including for those with long-term conditions.
The survey also found that nine out of 10 GPs found that their workload had an adverse impact on the quality of care given to patients.
A BMA Scotland survey of 900 GPs found that nine out of 10 GPs found that their workload had an adverse impact on the quality of care given to patients.
When asked what their top priority should be, 44 per cent of GP said that increased funding to support general practice should be a major priority, with 36 per cent of GPs indentifying an increase GP numbers as their top priority.
Dr Alan McDevitt, Chair of the BMA’s Scottish GP committee, said: “It is essential that the additional £500m per year promised by the Scottish Government is spent directly on supporting general practice.
“Giving us more time to patients, expanding the GP workforce and supporting the practice based primary care team will help to ensure the quality of care that our patients receive remains of a high standard.”
Picture courtesy of Alex Proimos
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