GP leaders in Scotland say they have achieved a “historic” deal to tackle workload pressures.

The country’s new GP contract will channel extra funding to the most pressed practices, according to the British Medical Association.

There will also be funding for premises, aimed at reducing the risks partners face from owning buildings, from a £30 million fund.

The contract also lays the “groundwork” for direct reimbursement of expenses in the future, according to the BMA.

Under the deal practices will get backing to expand their multi-disciplinary teams. But some activities, such as vaccination programmes, may be transferred to health boards.

The Scottish government says it will increase funding for health services in the community by a total of £500 million a year. Half of this will go directly to general practice.

GPs will begin voting next month on whether to accept the contract.

BMA Scottish GP committee chair Dr Alan McDevitt said: “This contract offers solutions to the pressures faced by general practice. By expanding the primary care team and working with integration authorities to improve patient access to services delivered by other professionals, such as, practice nurses, pharmacists and physiotherapists, GPs can have more time to concentrate on being GPs.

“The additional funding attached to this contract is a significant investment and demonstrates the value placed on the role of general practice in the NHS in Scotland. The new contract offers income stability and reduced business risk to individuals.

“I hope that GPs across Scotland agree that this contract will make general practice fit for the future.”

He added: “Practices have been struggling to recruit to vacant positions and we have started to see this impact on patient care, with some practices closing their patient lists, handing back responsibility to the health board or in extreme cases having to close altogether.”

Scottish health minister Shona Robison said: “GPs tell us they want to spend more time with patients with undiagnosed illness and less time on bureaucracy, while patients say they want better access to GPs when they really need them. We have listened and, I believe, we have achieved that balance.

“These changes will give patients the right care in the right place, and give those who need to see GPs the most the time they need.”