Data from the NHS Scotland's Information Services Division (ISD) show GP numbers rose from 4,942 to 4,960 in the past year. Since 2006, there are 323 more GPs in Scotland.
The figures refer to all GPs contracted to Scottish practices, but do not include GPs working as locums or in OOH services.
Data also show:
- In 2009, female GPs outnumbered their male counterparts for the first time. This trend has continued in 2010 with females now making up 51.3% of contracted GPs and males 48.7%.
- The average Scottish GP practice has 5,466 registered patients at 1st October 2010.
- There was 168,051 staff employed by the NHS in Scotland by September 2010. Although this was 994 fewer than in 2009, it represents an increase of 9,529 compared with 2006.
- Administrative staff in NHS Scotland fell from 26,106 in 2009 to 25,886 by September this year. Management grades have also decreased by 7.5%.
Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘There are more doctors, nurses, dentists and other health professionals working in Scotland's hospitals and community settings now than there were at the start of this administration.’
She added: ‘At the same time as frontline staff increased, the number of administrative jobs has fallen and the number of management posts has gone down.
‘When we add this saving to the other non-clinical efficiency savings that health boards will make, it will release more than £100m a year to be spent on vital frontline services.’
