Moray SNP News

RICHARD LOCHHEAD CHAIRS POSITIVE MEETING ON THE FUTURE OF GP SERVICES IN MORAY

Moray’s SNP MSP, Richard Lochhead, yesterday chaired a discussion at Dr Gray’s Hospital on the future of GP services in Moray and the action needed to ensure those services are resilient, sustainable and fit for the future.

To contribute to this meeting Mr Lochhead brought together Professor Karen Reid, Chief Executive of NHS Education for Scotland, Professor Emma Watson, Executive Medical Director for NHS Education for Scotland, Professor Rona Patey, Director of the Institute of Education in Healthcare and Medical Sciences from the University of Aberdeen, Simon Boker-Ingram, Chief Executive of Health and Social Care Moray, Dr Emma Houghton, GP and Associate Medical Director Primary Care and Hosted Services, NHS Grampian, Dr Robert Lockhart, GP Maryhill Practice and Clinical Lead for Moray, Dr Malcolm Simmons, GP Partner, Varis Practice and Clinical Lead for Moray and Alasdair Pattinson, General Manager of Dr Gray’s Hospital.

Moray’s MSP described talks as positive and encouraging, welcoming steps already underway to support more doctors to train in the north of Scotland and to facilitate areas like Moray to grow their own by encouraging local young people to pursue a career in medicine.

Commenting Richard Lochhead MSP said:

“I was delighted to welcome the Chief Executive of NHS Education for Scotland to Moray because the agency has a big role to play in terms of allocating trainee doctors across the country and a range of other relevant responsibilities that can help workforce planning and attract and retain GPs and medical staff locally.

“This was a valuable opportunity to bring together some of the key players involved in the delivery of primary care in Moray.

“Clearly, there are challenges and pressures on GP services right now with some vacancies, at a time when we are recovering from the pandemic, have an ageing population with complex needs, and given the rural nature of many communities. Recruitment and retention are part of the issue and to address this, the Scottish Government is funding more medical students and taking other steps to underpin primary care.

“We need to support our existing surgeries to avoid burnout and to ensure Moray is promoted as an attractive place to live and work.

“We had a positive and encouraging discussion about some of the initiatives already underway to improve the recruitment and retention of doctors in Moray and across Scotland. Importantly, several other new suggestions were made at the meeting that could help Moray both in the short and longer term. I was heartened by the constructive way in which everyone was willing to engage to ensure we have adequate GP and related services in the local area. 

“There’s a real desire from these organisations to work together on solutions and to ensure that GP services are sustainable, fit for the future, and work for both patients and staff. It’s vital that we have a strong focus on these issues, and we all demonstrate leadership and determination going forward.

“As local MSP, I will continue to do what I can to support efforts to improve and modernise services here in Moray.

“We agreed to take steps to pull together existing initiatives as well as to progress the new ideas put forward at the meeting. I hope to report back to the community soon.”