PATIENTS calling for a GP appointment during normal hours will be assessed via the NHS 24 helpline first as part of an attempt to reduce pressure on struggling surgeries.
The move follows a pilot scheme in the Forth Valley and Ayrshirehealth board areas where patients seeking same-day appointments were initially transferred to the phoneline service.
Talks are taking place to extend the move to other GP surgeries that are experiencing staff shortages. This reportedly includes surgeries in Wishaw, Lanarkshire. A similar arrangement is also planned to launch in Musselburgh, East Lothian at the end of May. It comes amid record GP vacancies.
In a statement, NHS 24 said: “We are in discussion with a number of health boards to consider how its telephone triage service could best be used to support the established GP practices who have been experiencing challenges to continue to deliver high-quality services for their patients.
“Patients would select options when calling their GP surgery to ensure they receive the most appropriate care as soon as possible, and [this] may include appointments with a range of health professionals including GPs, nurses, physiotherapists, and community pharmacy. Where appropriate, patients will be given self-care advice.”
Dr Alan McDevitt, chairman of the BMA’s Scottish general practitioners committee, said transferring daytime calls to NHS 24 was useful in emergencies but was not a long-term solution.
He added that NHS 24 “could not cope” with all the daytime calls to GP surgeries across Scotland.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish LiDem health spokesman, said: “GPs are crying out for support and, in its absence, NHS 24 is having to help them out. This is just the latest symptom of the GP crisis that the SNP Government has allowed to happen.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “Patients will always be able to see a GP if they need one.”
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