Doctors say they cannot afford to recruit new GPs
BBCDoctors are warning that many practices in Scotland cannot afford to hire new GPs, despite government promises to make it easier to see a family doctor.
Trainee GPs have also told BBC Scotland News that they are struggling to find either permanent or temporary jobs.
The Royal College of GPs and the British Medical Association say some practices are freezing recruitment and scaling back on the use of temporary staff cover in the face of severe financial challenges.
The Scottish government says it is taking steps to provide additional resources to general practice.
We have spoken to many Scottish GPs who say they are struggling financially.
Three quarters of surgeries in Scotland are run by GP partners, who absorb the costs of staffing and running a business and are then paid by NHS for the services they provide to patients.
'The patient is going to lose out'
Dr Annie Lomas is a partner at Linden Medical Practice in West Lothian and medical director of the Local Medical Committee for Lothian.
She says the financial situation is "the worst it has ever been" and warns that some practices may have to close because they cannot balance the books.
Her practice, which has eight doctors, is "trying to not go bust", she says, because of increased running charges.
She says it now faces additional costs of between £35,000 and £50,000 each year due to a range of factors, including a hike in national insurance, the impact of NHS pay deals and rising charges from the health board.
The practice has been forced to reduce capacity, through steps like cutting back on the use of locums, and cannot afford to take on any additional GPs.
"If I can't afford to employ staff then ultimately the person who is going to lose out is the patient," she adds.
Dr Lomas says there are more doctors training to be GPs than there were five years ago, but that practices cannot afford to employ them.
Dr Samantha McCarthy is in her final year of GP training at Penicuik Medical Centre.
It is the largest teaching and training practice in Scotland but has introduced pause on recruiting new doctors.
Dr McCarthy, 38, initially specialised in obstetrics and gynaecology before choosing a career in general practice.
She says she and her fellow trainees are facing a "wall of unemployment", with fierce competition for any vacancy that comes up.
"When I started three years ago the job market was hugely different. Practices were crying out for salaried GPs and locums, there were plenty of vacancies."
She says things are so bad now, she is having to consider leaving medicine altogether, or moving her husband and young children to Australia, where there are more opportunities.
"I'm really concerned. It's really sad that we are at this point and I'm really worried for the patients who can't get appointments," she added.
Tricia Dickson has been a patient at Penicuik Medical Centre for more than 30 years.
She doesn't blame the staff, but says she can find herself 80th or 90th in the queue when she calls at 08:30 to make an appointment.
"They don't have enough doctors and it's just not fair because we are not getting the service we deserve," she said.
"They are building new houses in Penicuik so where do these people go to see a doctor":[]}