Mary Contini column: Existence of GP practices under threat

The spots over my body were red and irritated, soothed only with frequent dabs of calamine lotion.

The good doctor visited daily, genuinely worried.

Recurring rubella outbreaks caused 2.5 million deaths worldwide. It wasn’t until the 1970s that vaccinations against rubella were introduced.

The NHS was founded in 1948 and we have always been cared for under the umbrella of ‘free at the point of delivery’. Over time, we may have become complacent and taken less individual care of ourselves, expecting too much of the NHS.

Today, unbelievably, the very existence of our GP practices is under threat.

Lothian Local Medical Committee (LLMC), on behalf of Lothian GP practices, explain in an open letter to patients why GPs are no longer able to do everything they once did.

In the letter, our GPs explain why so many now face closure due to the crippling financial pressures of running a GP surgery in Scotland.

Over half the GP practices in Lothian have recently received huge bills for their facilities from NHS Lothian over and above what they are already paying. At the same time, their overheads and workload have increased.

Since 2013, the number of practices has fallen by nine per cent whilst average surgery lists have increased by 18 per cent.

The LLMC are advising us that they are committed to maintaining the highest standards of the NHS but their hands are tied.

In an unprecedented move, the LLMC is asking patients who are not satisfied with the service they receive to “hold those with the power to improve matters to account” and to contact their MSP directly.

In a cri de guerre, they state this is the only way to resolve a “critical situation with less money, less doctors and less staff”.

For an insight into the history of our GP practices, visit the Heritage Room in Cockenzie House until November 6, open 10am until 4pm, Monday to Saturday.