Nurses and other non-medical health care workers are to have a chance to become doctors in an innovative training programme in Scotland. 25 places are to be offered at Edinburgh University as part of a project aimed at tackling the country’s chronic shortage of GPs. Students will study part-time for three years and then undertake…

A row has broken out in Scotland over the number of GPs taking early retirement. Liberal Democrats in the country accused the Scottish Nationalist Party of presiding over a growing trend of early retirements. Last year some 74 doctors left the profession early compared with just 22 a decade earlier. The row erupted after the…

The Scottish government has announced an investigation into complaints from some practices about a new GP contract introduced in the country yesterday. The contract is being backed with extra funding and its negotiators say it should help relieve work pressures on doctors. The British Medical Association – which has faced criticism for its role –…

The number of GPs working in Scotland has fallen to its lowest level for five years, according to new figures. Some 24% of practices now report vacancies for doctors, according to the latest survey of the medical workforce in the country. This compared with 22% in 2015. According to the Scottish government’s Information Services Division,…

Ten Scottish GPs are threatening to resign from the British Medical Association over the country’s new contract, recently approved by doctors. The doctors, from rural and inner-city practices, argue that the contract discriminates in favour of wealth urban practices. Their threat opens the prospect of an alternative medical organisation being set up to represent Scottish…

GPs in Scotland have given overwhelming support to a new contract aimed at cutting red-tape for practices, it has been announced. The proposal was backed by 71.5% of participating doctors. The plan was opposed by 28.5% of participants. The Scottish government has promised to support the contract with £10 million worth of funding at the…

Scotland has failed to increase GP numbers while practice numbers have declined, according to new figures. About 4,900 doctors work as GPs in Scotland – about the same as ten years ago – while demand on their services has increased, according to the latest figures. GP leaders said the figures highlighted the need to agree…