Craig Hoy MSP has helped secure a six-month pause on controversial service charges which threatened GP surgeries across NHS Lothian.
The pause follows several meetings with GPs in East Lothian and Midlothian and an urgent intervention by Mr Hoy at Holyrood following engagement with NHS Lothian and the Scottish Government.
GPs were faced with the prospect of losing staff and withdrawing services after NHS Lothian announced crippling increases in facilities management charges, which include cleaning, utilities and essential services relating to the building’s physical structure.
After pressing ministers and NHS executives to rethink the charges, Mr Hoy has welcomed confirmation from Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, that the charges, due to take effect from April, will be put on hold for six months to allow time for negotiation.
Craig said: “This will be a massive relief for GP surgeries and patients across Midlothian and East Lothian. I called on the Scottish Government and NHS Lothian to halt these damaging charges, and I am pleased they have now agreed to relook at the plans. Some practices faced huge increases and could have been hit with the prospect of losing GPs which would have risked patient care.
“I am conscious, however, that this is only a pause, and I will continue to press the Scottish Government for a long-term solution which ensures GP practices are properly funded and protected from financial uncertainty. Access to quality primary healthcare is essential for residents and I am working hard to make sure people can see a GP quickly, which is all too often a problem presently.”
Mr Gray says the pause will allow time for the Scottish Government to accelerate a national workstream aimed at negotiating direct reimbursements for some GP non-pay costs as part of the ongoing development of the GMS contract.
