Underperforming GPs should be denied support from LMCs if they do not accept the profession's guidance to improve, said Scottish GPs.

Continually underperforming GPs were bringing general practice into disrepute, doctors agreed.

Dr Gary Hamilton, from Greater Glasgow and Clyde LMC, said that these practices gave the government an excuse to interfere.

‘If a practice refuses the profession’s guidance, we shouldn’t waste resources on it,’ he said.

GPs voted unanimously that LMCs should only support continually underperforming practices if they agreed to follow guidance from the profession to try to address their failings.

They also unanimously agreed that LMCs should work with community health and care partnerships and NHS boards to assist in addressing underperformance.

Dr Paul Ryan, also from Glasgow and Clyde LMC, said GPs had to ‘get our own house in order’.

He said: ‘If we don’t police it ourselves then it will be dictated to us. It’s up to us.’

Scottish GPC chairman Dr Dean Marshall said it was the right thing to do.

He added that he was surprised at the agreement amongst delegates.

‘I was expecting this to be more contentious. I’m glad it’s not.’

Call for more BASICs doctor deployment
BASICs doctors are not being deployed enough by their ambulance colleagues in situations where their skills could be used, said Scottish GPs.

Dr Simon Willetts, of Dumfries and Galloway LMC, said the Scottish Ambulance Service could not be everywhere at the same time. Yet there was a lack of progress in the deployment of BASICs doctors.

‘Scotland is a big place – the Highland region is the size of Belgium.

‘Unless they [doctors] happen to be there at the time they don’t know if there’s a life threatening situation,’ said Dr Willetts.

But Dr Brian Fitzsimons, a BASICs doctor from Highlands LMC, said GPs needed to be more proactive.

‘We need to play into the set-up. They don’t know how to reach us,’ he said.

Dumfries and Galloway GP Dr Gregor Purdie said this was not always the case.

‘We feel that there are times that they could have called us when they didn’t.’

He added that it was frustrating for GPs who were not given the opportunity to help.

GPs voted for the motion.

NHS buyout plans rejected
Scottish GPs rejected the proposal that the NHS should buy out doctors’ practices if they fell into negative equity.

Dr Thomas Malloch, of Ayrshire and Arran LMC, said the current economic climate meant negative equity could become a problem for doctors close to retirement age. He said the NHS should buy out these toxic assets.

‘Older practitioners that are close to retirement are concerned that the value of their premises is declining,’ said Dr Malloch.

Dr Sandy Sutherland, from Lothian LMC, said the suggestion sounded like one that came from bankers, not doctors.

‘You were quite happy to take the money when the times were good. It’s a bit rich to ask to be bailed out now,’ he said.

Dr Sutherland added that those close to retirement were likely to have seen a good return on their investment.

Dr Malloch said his suggestion was not entirely due to ‘ugly’ self-interest.

If GPs were reliant on finding young doctors to invest in a practice, it could lead to a dearth of doctors in some areas.

‘So many young GPs see it as a burden rather than an investment opportunity. 

‘This ought to be a worry for policy makers everywhere,’ he said.

Interim deputy chairman of GPC Scotland Dr Andrew Buist acknowledged that it was a problem. He said infrastructure was an area that needed to be looked at. However, he recommended that GPs did not vote through the proposal.

‘I don’t think the wording of this motion is ideal and it’s not realistic to expect it,’ said Dr Buist.

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