Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr has today urged Health Secretary Humza Yousaf to get to grips with the lack of centralisation of data in Scotland’s GP services.
The MSP searched for data on the number of GP visits registered in the past years, only to be told first by Public Health Scotland that there was no central data, and then by Forth Valley NHS that he would have to contact individual GP surgeries.
Over the course of the pandemic many GPs were forced to operate with reduced capacity, as first lockdown and social distancing and later testing and vaccination centres took up priority in GP centres. Today, many people have raised the issue of not being able to see their GP in person. Meanwhile, the SNP have announced a new push for Indyref2.
Stephen Kerr MSP said:
“It is vital we have information on the number of people who are attending GP services. Many serious illnesses are diagnosed as a result of an initial meeting with a GP, and many people’s quality of life depends on being able to access the services GPs offer.
How can the Health Secretary make decisions if he doesn’t have the information to do so? I urge him to get to grips with this lack of data and create a centralised GP data hub.”
