Attempts by NHS Fife to plug gaps in GP services with locums are falling short, according to a Fife Labour Councillor, who wants more information about how other interventions can maintain a high level of care for people and communities.
Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request by Cllr. Graeme Downie, Scottish Labour Councillor for West Fife & Coastal Villages, show an average of four locums covering 25 sessions each month since January 2021.
With each session intended to last four hours and 10mins, that means approximately just 13 days of additional GP cover across the Kingdom being provided by locum GPs.
NHS Fife has regularly posted on social media about reduced services at GP surgeries across the Kingdom.
Cllr. Downie wants more detail about how multi-disciplinary teams, which NHS Fife say can provide a very high standard of care without the need to see or speak to a GP, will work and reassurance that the staff exist to fill those teams.
Commenting on the figures, Cllr. Graeme Downie, Scottish Labour Councillor for West Fife & Coastal Villages said:
“In just the last month, NHS Fife have posted four warnings on their Facebook page about reduced services at GP surgeries across the Kingdom.”
“We are told there is a shortage of GPs nationwide and clearly there are not enough locum doctors to fill the gaps either.”
“At Valleyfield Practice in my own Ward which has had extensive problems over recent years. Patients were reassured in a letter on 1 July that a multi-disciplinary team is being deployed to maintain service levels.”
“I trust that could be the case but people need to know what the composition of those team might be and that NHS Fife have the staff to fill them. Only then can people and communities feel properly assured.”