New data shows 2.4 million rise in patient-GP surgery contact
Health Secretary Neil Gray underlined the Scottish Government’s commitment to shift the balance of care to community settings, as new data shows an increase in the number of times people have accessed care at their GP surgery.
Statistics released by Public Health Scotland yesterday show patients in Scotland had 33.98 million direct encounters with staff in General Practice between October 2024 and September 2025 – an increase of 2.4 million on the same 12-month period in 2023-24.
GP numbers have increased in Scotland and to make it easier for people to access GP services and support recruitment, the Scottish Government is investing an additional £531 million of newly agreed funding in General Practice over the next three years, subject to Parliament agreeing future budgets.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “We are determined to improve access to primary care, and I welcome these figures which show more people are accessing care at their GP surgery. I am grateful to our hard-working GPs and all practice staff for the care they provide.
“And while GP numbers have risen in Scotland over the last year, we have put a plan in place to go further.
“We have confirmed that we will invest £531 million over the next three years to significantly boost recruitment and help deliver the capacity needed to improve services for patients. This is the largest-ever investment in core GP services in Scotland.
“This will be supported by our commitment to open 15 new GP walk-in centres providing care from 12pm-8pm seven days per week, making it easier for people to get the care they need in a way that works for them.”
£4.5 million a year to address long-term health effects
New year-on-year investment in specialist services will help address long-term effects caused by COVID-19 and other similar health conditions.
The Scottish Government is allocating £4.5 million to health boards this year and in future years on a recurring basis, to recruit skilled staff and develop sustainable services. Patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and similar conditions will also be eligible for referral.
Services could include managing fatigue or breathlessness, physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
During a visit to services at the Astley Ainslie Hospital in Edinburgh, Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “I recognise the significant impact which the symptoms of long COVID and ME/CFS can have on those most severely affected. I want to ensure these patients are listened to and receive appropriate assessments and referrals.
“Being able to meet professionals involved in Astley Ainslie Hospital’s existing long COVID service, I am heartened to hear first-hand how our funding so far has allowed people living with the condition to be given advice and support to improve their quality of life.
“Recurring funding will enable health boards to develop new support on a sustainable basis and help the retention and recruitment of the skilled members of staff required for the delivery of these services.”
Director of Allied Health Professions at NHS Lothian, Dr Heather Cameron, welcomed the recurring funding and added: “In Lothian, we are taking a holistic approach to supporting people with long-term health conditions such as ME, CFS and Long Covid.
“Our clinical teams work collaboratively across a range of services, including medical, psychology, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy, to provide care and support people to better manage their condition and improve their quality of life.
“This funding is vitally important, and it means that we are able to further develop our services in the longer term to ensure that established care pathways are available when people need it most.”
The UK Government should make the £20 per week uplift to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit permanent, according to a joint letter issued by cross-party committees from Westminster, the Northern Irish Assembly, the Welsh Senedd and the Scottish Parliament.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak and Work Pensions Secretary, Thérèse Coffey, have confirmed that the uplift will come to an end in October.
However, if the uplift is removed, the 6 million people claiming Universal Credit will lose £1,040 in annual income overnight. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation this could force 500,000 people, including 200,000 children, into poverty.
The letter also raises concerns that the benefit will be removed from families at the same time unemployment is due to peak as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme comes to an end.
The Committees call on the uplift to be extended to legacy benefits, to make sure those in need do not miss out.
The letter was signed by Neil Gray MSP, Convener of Holyrood’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee, Stephen Timms MP, Chair of Westminster’s Work and Pensions Select Committee, Paula Bradley MLA, Chair of Stormont’s Committee for Communities, and Jenny Rathbone MS, Chair of the Senedd’s Equality and Social Justice Committee.
Neil Gray MSP, Convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, said:“The UK Government did the right thing at the start of the pandemic to increase Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit to give better support to people during these incredibly challenging times.
“But removing the uplift in October would have devastating consequences for our most vulnerable in society, who have been hit hardest by this pandemic.
“This risks sending many more people into poverty at a time when we should be doing all we can to support them.
Mr Gray added: “All four of our Committees agree that by spending this money now on social security, we can avoid putting more people into poverty, helping save more money in the longer term on health, education, justice and other social services.”
Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, Chair of the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee, said: “To sweep away such a vital lifeline from people who have felt the very worst effects of the pandemic risks plunging hundreds of thousands of people into poverty at a time when they will have had little or no chance to get back on their feet.
“Six Conservative former welfare secretaries have warned the Chancellor of the grave consequences of his proposed course of action. The strength of feeling on all sides of the political divide, and across the UK, could not be clearer. The Government must change course.
“At the same time, the Government must also increase support for the people who, through no fault of their own, are still claiming older benefits and have received no pandemic-related increases at all – despite their living costs rising during the pandemic.”
Jenny Rathbone MS, Chair, Equality and Social Justice Committee, said:
“Whilst, in Wales, policy relating to Universal Credit and other social security benefits is reserved to Westminster, we are deeply concerned about the impact removing the uplift might have on widening social inequality in Wales; growing indebtedness as a result of the economic impact of Covid; and the ability of low income families to eat as well as pay their rent.”
