Fears Brexit will force 200 GPs to quit Scottish posts

A report compiled by the body that represents general medicalpractitioners suggests that 226 EU-trained GPs may choose to leave Scotland once the European divorce is finalised.

It equates to about one in 25 of an already strained workforce, prompting the GP body to call for the status of healthcare staff working in Scotland to be guaranteed.

About 226,000 patients across the country would be impacted by their departure.

Last year, NHS bosses warned that half of all Edinburgh GP practices might soon be forced to turn away new patients as the lack of family doctors heaped further pressure on practices.

The calls were backed by the British Medical Association, against the backdrop of an existing GP shortage.

Dr Miles Mack, chairman of the RCGP, said estimates already suggest there will be a shortfall of 828 GPs by 2021 as fewer medical graduates choose to specialise in general practice and soaring demand due to the ageing population.

“To learn that Scotland could face the loss of an additional four per cent of its already stretched GP workforce is extremely worrying,” he said.

Last June, the Scottish Government was forced to explain a drop of 90 in the number of wholefull-time-equivalent GPs.

“We are now faced with a possible removal of a further 226 GPs who, as nationals of other EU member states, might be lost to the workforce if their status is not protected,” Dr Mack said.

He added that both Westminster and Holyrood could take action to reduce the threat.

The RCGP is asking for GPs to be placed on the shortage occupation list to make it easier for would-be workers to get visas.

Dr Mack said it was “inexplicable” thatthis was not already the case.

“It must be made as easy as possible for doctors from the EU and other countries to move to the UK and work here,” he said.

Dr Alan McDevitt, chairman of the British Medical Association’s Scottish GP Committee, said the continuing uncertainty faced by European doctors in the UK was deeply damaging.

“Since the decision to leave the European Union, the BMA has warned the UK Government that the needless and continuing uncertainty over the future status of European doctors who already work in our health service has the potential to impact negatively on recruitment and retention,” he said.

“GPs play a vital role in communities across Scotland and many European doctors have dedicated years of service to healthcare in the UK, so it’s extremely concerning that their future status as a vital part of the workforce is unclear.

“We should be in no doubt that the scale of the recruitment and retention difficulties that Scotland’s NHS is facing would be made exponentially worse without the contribution of European doctors including those working as GPs.

“It is the Westminster Government that must act, and act quickly, to ensure long-term stability for the NHS by providing certainty about the future of European doctors in the UK,” he added.

“It must also ensure that a future immigration system allows the NHS to continue employing European and overseas doctors to fill staff shortages in the health service.”

Health Secretary Shona Robison said the Scottish Government had made clear that it would like to see the right of EU doctors to live and work here protected. “The uncertainty surrounding the UK’s withdrawal from the EU presents us with many challenges for planning the future NHS and social care workforce. The contribution of EU and EEA nationals to our NHS cannot be overestimated,” she said.

However the RCGP is calling for an additional £250 million to be invested in general practices to bring spending levels up to 11 per cent of the Scottish NHS Budget.

In October, Nicola Sturgeon pledged £500 million for primary care, but an announcement by Ms Robison in March only delivered £250m.

Dr Mack said. “The full £500m promised to GPs and health centres by the first minister in October could be clearly outlined for the GP service, to show medical students a career with a bright future.