The Royal College of General Practice (RCGP) says, if Scotland’s leaders are to achieve NHS reform and shift the balance of care towards preventative and community care, increasing funding to expand the workforce, reach Scotland’s most deprived communities and upgrade IT systems is essential.

Launching its ‘General Practice: The Solution to the NHS Crisis’ manifesto today, the College is calling for the next Scottish government to invest at least 11% of the NHS budget in general practice, with a longer-term ambition of reaching 15%.

It is also calling for targeted resources to help reach people in Scotland’s most deprived areas – including placing a community link worker in each practice – and to expand the workforce by setting ‘new, ambitious and binding’ targets for GP recruitment.

The manifesto launch ahead of the 2026 elections follows the College revealing that despite the GP workforce rising, it remains smaller than a decade ago and half of GPs say they lack sufficient time to properly assess patients.

RCGP Scotland’s manifesto says, as demand on the NHS grows, investment is needed to expand the primary care workforce to give GPs more time with their patients.

RCGP Scotland Chair Dr Chris Provan said the next Scottish government must recognise the damage done to patients and the workforce by “chronic underfunding and neglect” and take steps to repair general practice:

“Over the last decade, the GP workforce has shrunk and the proportion of the NHS budget going to general practice has decreased. Despite this, GPs are being asked to deliver more care to a growing and ageing population.

“Our manifesto sets out actions needed to strengthen general practice and protect patient care.

“Funding alone is not enough. It must be accompanied by a robust, long-term workforce strategy that grows the GP workforce in line with patient demand.”

The College says the way Scottish GPs are trained should be enhanced, with GP Specialty Registrars spending two years training in general practice placements rather than the current 18 months.

Its manifesto says primary care should be supported to play a lead role in cutting emissions to net zero, with a specific focus on cutting overprescribing and moving to a digital prescription system.

RCGP Scotland Chair Dr Provan said updating IT systems will also ensure general practice is best placed to lead on modern patient care:

“We are urging political parties to commit to modernising the general practice estate and upgrading outdated IT systems.

“GPs and their teams need fit-for-purpose premises and digital infrastructure that reduces bureaucracy and allows more time to be spent with patients.

“GPs prevent illness, reduce hospital admissions, and avoid costly interventions. General practice is the solution to the NHS crisis.

“It’s time for all parties to move beyond warm words and make general practice - and patient care - a top priority in next year’s election.”

RCGP Scotland is a member of Scotland’s Mental Health Partnership, which this week also launched an election manifesto urging the next government to take ‘bold and decisive action’ on mental health.

Read more: Doctors invited to shape medical workforce reforms; Primary care progress falls behind need, say doctors; Watchdog criticises homelessness service cuts; Scheme for GPs to help lost patients; NHS waits pushing more patients private

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