Most GPs in Scotland fear heavy workloads are harming the quality of care they give to patients, according to a new survey.

900 Scottish GPs took part in the survey, organised by the British Medical Association.

Just 7% of doctors said they had adequate consultation times with patients while 91% warned that their workload was having a negative impact on the quality of care.

Doctors differed over the best solution to the problem. Some 44% said increased funding should be the priority while 36% said extra GPs was the priority.

In the survey 53% of doctors said they needed extra consultation time with some groups of patients, such as those with long-term conditions, while 40% said all patients needed more time with their GPs.

BMA Scottish GP committee Dr Alan McDevitt said: “This survey reflects the immense pressure that GPs working across Scotland are currently feeling. The rising workload is simply unsustainable and something has to change to make general practice in Scotland fit for the future.

“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 with 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.”