£531 million funding in General Practice

General Practice will obtain further funding of greater than half a billion kilos over the following three years to help recruitment – the most important funding in core GP providers to this point in Scotland.

The announcement, topic to Parliament agreeing future budgets, comes following settlement with the British Medical Association (BMA) over new further funding which builds to a recurring £249 million in three years’ time. The funding will assist increase employees numbers and capability, help day-to-day operations and make it simpler for folks to entry GP providers.

This newly agreed further funding takes further new funding for General Practice to £531 million. 

Subject to future price range processes, an preliminary funding of £98 million might be made obtainable in 2026-27, with £183 million being invested in 2027-28 and £249 million following in 2028-29. This builds on our present annual funding into General Practice of over £1.3 billion, together with greater than a further £100m during the last two years.  

The new funding will even assist ship digital prescribing, which goals to enhance effectivity inside Primary Care settings and improve the affected person expertise.

Health Secretary Neil Gray mentioned:

“We have been listening fastidiously to the views of Scotland’s GPs and I’m happy the BMA has accepted the Scottish Government’s supply to extend funding by £249 million, which takes whole funding in General Practice to greater than half a billion kilos over the following three years.

“This is the most important funding in core GP providers to this point in Scotland and can considerably increase recruitment from subsequent 12 months, serving to to ship the capability wanted to enhance providers for sufferers.

“This funding will assist us as we shift the main target of care from acute to neighborhood. We stay centered on decreasing ready instances and new figures present we’re making progress – waits of greater than a 12 months have lowered for the fourth month in a row and the whole ready record measurement has additionally lowered.

“This will not be a pay deal — it’s about stabilising practices and getting extra employees into normal observe. GPs and observe employees acquired a £46 million uplift for pay and bills earlier this 12 months, and practices are receiving a further £15 million in 2025-26 to help instant recruitment wants.

“I thank the BMA for his or her constructive discussions and look ahead to working with the sector to make sure sufferers have the absolute best care obtainable, as near residence as potential.”

Dr Iain Morrison, Chair of BMA Scotland’s GP Committee mentioned:

“For a while, we’ve got been clear that the one method to put General Practice in Scotland on a sustainable footing for the longer term and to enhance entry for sufferers was direct funding into practices to recruit and retain GPs.

“Today’s announcement, secured after a strong however constructive set of negotiations is welcome recognition of that reality and displays the extent of funding wanted to stabilise and rebuild General Practice throughout Scotland in each city and rural areas.

“It is a major step in the precise path, and importantly is a vote of confidence within the long-term way forward for the impartial contractor mannequin of normal observe that has served native communities throughout Scotland so nicely.

“This investment should finally enable the profession to feel optimistic about the future and provides the opportunity to make working in General Practice in Scotland the rewarding, safe and sustainable career it should be once again.”