The UK-wide poll, which was published today by the BMA, found that 98 per cent of Scottish GPs believed the government’s method of negotiation was unacceptable. In addition, 96 per cent said they were not confident in the Government’s handling of the NHS. 

The poll was conducted following the breakdown of UK negotiations last year over proposals to extend patient access to GP practices.  

Both the UK and Scottish Governments have repeatedly stated that they would like to see GP practices offering extended opening hours at evenings and weekends in a bid to increase access to family doctors and reduce pressure on A&E wards and NHS 24. In exchange GPs in Scotland have been offered funding of £16m, comprising of £9.5m new funding and £6.5m “recycled” funding. However, if this “offer” is not accepted the Scottish Government is proposing to introduce a range of changes to the current financial entitlements from 1 April 2008. 

The BMA poll asked GPs to select which of these two options they believe poses the lesser risk to patient care. While 93 per cent of Scottish GPs select Option A over Option B, 97 per cent said they opposed both options but had selected the first option because it was “less worse” than the alternative. 

Dr Dean Marshall, chair of BMA’s GP Committee said that the strength of GPs feeling on this issue can not be understated, and their anger is reflected in the poll results. He also said that the Scottish Government has missed a “valuable opportunity” by adopting the UK model. 

 “Rather than tinkering about with the UK offer, the Scottish Government should have had the confidence to work with the profession to come up with a model for improved access that reflected our circumstances and which was more likely to have had the support of GPs.” 

While he said that GPs recognise that the public wants extended hours, he said that by working in partnership with doctors the Government could have come up with a solution that was “practical, implementable and would give patients the service they want.”

He continued: “Instead patients’ expectations have been raised. They are being told that they will have access to ‘routine’ appointments at evening and weekends. They are being misled. The service that the Government is proposing will not deliver the comprehensive care available to patients who attend during the day, and even then, the appointments available cannot be guaranteed for patients who work. 

While Marshall stressed that this was a survey and not a ballot, he said many of the GP practices, including his own, have already indicated that they will choose not to introduce extended openings.

“This is a lose, lose situation for all involved. Patients will lose out because they will not get the level of improved access they expect and the Scottish Government loses out because it cannot deliver on its promises and it has lost the support of a key part of the health service.”

Responding to the poll, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Ross Finnie condemned the SNP Government’s handling of the discussions about extended opening hours for GPs, calling the results a “damning indictment” of the Scottish Government’s handling of the issue.

 He continued: “It beggars belief that the SNP Government should try to piggyback on an ill-conceived attempt by the UK Government to bully GPs into changing their contract.

“Patients want more flexibility and better access to their doctors, but they want it in the context of 24 hour care.  The only way this can be achieved is by the Scottish Government sitting down with the BMA and starting afresh to negotiate a 24 hour care provision.

“GPs and patients deserve no less.”