Nicola Sturgeon has said the Scottish Government is dealing with challenges facing the NHS better than the Tories or Labour are, as she was warned of a GP crisis.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard told the First Minister Scotland has a GP workforce crisis (Jane Barlow/PA
During our season of political posturing, the politics of health care are strikingly similar as we listen to Republicans and Democrats argue over how we can further reform our own system.
He called for the Scottish Government to intervene to stop GP surgery closures to ease pressure on other parts of the NHS. During the exchange, he said GP services are at risk “because of staff shortages, policy decisions and under-resourcing” that has caused a “workforce crisis” with GPs and the wider NHS.
“There is a workforce crisis in primary care services and it is happening now and it is happening here in Scotland and it goes all the way back to the First Minister’s door,” Mr Leonard said.
“We know it takes at least 10 years to train to be a GP and 10 years ago the First Minister was the health secretary responsible.
“This winter saw the worst A&E performances on record, thousands of patients waited over four hours for treatment.” according to Richard Leonard.
Ms. Sturgeon pointed out that the number of trainee doctors has risen by 10% since 2007, the Scottish Government has agreed on a new GP contract and there is an increased number of GP training places.
“We are putting record funding into our National Health Service, it’s why we have record numbers of people working in our National Health Service,” Ms. Sturgeon said.
“We have record numbers of people working in our National Health Service, we have increasing numbers of GPs and GPs in training, and that’s why our health service is performing better – yes it’s still facing challenges – but it’s performing better than any other part of the UK.”
The report goes on to describe the statistical difference in the Scottish vs the English system and differences between Tories and Labour parties.
If you read the new there are some glaring remarks about measuring improvement using a four hour wait time in a GP office. That seems like a low goal.
Our politicians repeatedly compare our costs and outcomes such as longevity and birth mortality against other developed nations.
There are flaws in measuring our system against other countries. No one would dispute the high cost of care in the U.S.A. The experts now are rightly targetting Pharma, and Health Insurers profit motives.
San Diego/Tijuana Border Wall
It is commonplace where I live (Southern California) or anywhere in the southwest USA within driving distance of Mexico to drive through or around 'The Wall" and pay 10% of what a drug costs in the United States.
Scottish Labour leader warns First Minister of GP staffing crisis - Evening Express:
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