Question
Untitled item
S6W-12964 · Written Question · lodged by Lennon, Monica
Lodged on
04 Dec 2022Heard / answered on
21 Dec 2022To ask the Scottish Government what immediate action it is taking to boost the morale of GPs.
The answer
Addressing the wellbeing needs of the Health and Social Care workforce is now even more crucial than it was prior to Covid-19 and is key to both retaining our GP workforce at the current record level of 5209 and as we press ahead with our commitment to increase the GP population in Scotland by at least 800 additional GPs by end 2027.
We are investing in a number of measures that are accessible to GPs to support the physical, mental and emotional needs of the workforce, including:the National Wellbeing Hub and National Wellbeing Helpline;investment of £2 million in targeted support to the primary care and social care workforces;the Workforce Specialist Service, which is a confidential multidisciplinary mental health service with expertise in treating regulated health and social services professionals;Specific GP Coaching for GPs thinking of leaving the profession;additional funding to NHS Education for Scotland (NES) for the provision of psychological interventions and therapies to the Health and Social Care workforce;guidance to promote effective wellbeing conversations;enhancing occupational health provision;improving access to quality assured peer support and reflective practice; and since autumn 2021 we have been developing a new National Wellbeing Programme, with workstreams covering specific areas of work including ICU, nursing, primary care and social care.
We are also working with the Scottish General Practitioners Committee of the BMA with the aim of making Practice Learning Time formally available from 2023/24. While practices can set aside learning time on their own initiative, we are considering how this can be supported at a national level.
We are investing in a number of measures that are accessible to GPs to support the physical, mental and emotional needs of the workforce, including:the National Wellbeing Hub and National Wellbeing Helpline;investment of £2 million in targeted support to the primary care and social care workforces;the Workforce Specialist Service, which is a confidential multidisciplinary mental health service with expertise in treating regulated health and social services professionals;Specific GP Coaching for GPs thinking of leaving the profession;additional funding to NHS Education for Scotland (NES) for the provision of psychological interventions and therapies to the Health and Social Care workforce;guidance to promote effective wellbeing conversations;enhancing occupational health provision;improving access to quality assured peer support and reflective practice; and since autumn 2021 we have been developing a new National Wellbeing Programme, with workstreams covering specific areas of work including ICU, nursing, primary care and social care.
We are also working with the Scottish General Practitioners Committee of the BMA with the aim of making Practice Learning Time formally available from 2023/24. While practices can set aside learning time on their own initiative, we are considering how this can be supported at a national level.
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 Dec 2022.