Ayrshire MSP Sharon Dowey has backed her party’s plans to boost the number of GPs in rural areas, after the party launched its proposal at their annual conference.
Sharon Dowey says the problems for patients trying to see their GP – and in turn doctors meeting patient demand – is particularly acute in rural areas such across Ayrshire.
Included in the policy proposals from the Scottish Conservatives are plans that would see alternative pathways to primary care – such as pharmacies and optometrists – fully utilised in rural areas.
The party are also urging greater recruitment of allied health professionals in rural areas – alongside extra GPs – to bolster primary care in Ayrshire. This would involve upscaling training opportunities for allied health professionals so they can be fully integrated into rural healthcare provision.
Sharon also says that rural housing must be urgently upgraded – given the SNP have failed to build enough houses in communities across Ayrshire during their 16 years in power, hampering the recruitment of GPs in these communities.
The final part of the proposals call for more to be done to encourage medical students to complete their placements in rural areas, encouraging them to stay there long-term.
Commenting, Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Sharon Dowey said:
“The SNP’s poor workforce planning has resulted in a shortage of GPs across the country, and that has been particularly prevalent in rural and remote areas across Ayrshire.
“That is why I am delighted to back plans put forward by my party to help improve the situation for patients and local health services in Ayrshire, by making the most of pharmacists and optometrists to help ease the pressure on GPs.
“A lack of housing in Ayrshire has also had a major impact in attracting enough GPs to come and work here.
“Unless we start focussing on building homes here in rural areas, GPs won’t be able to make a permanent base here and stay for the long-term.
“Only the Scottish Conservatives are standing up for the real priorities of rural Scotland and my constituents in Ayrshire and the proposal to boost the number of GPs forms just a part of that.”
