Clearances But this time all Scotland is on the rack

It then emerged that between 2012 and 2014 its expenditure on locum consultants had risen from £420,000 to £1.2 million a year. But the Western Isles story was merely the latest in a rash of similar tales.

The BBC recently reported that a number of GP practices in NHS Forth Valley were in trouble. Medical centres in Falkirk, Drymen, Bannockburn and Grangemouth were unable to find enough GPs to work in them. Maintaining services was a big problem.

One practice, Kerriebank, in Grangemouth, had lost four doctors in quick succession and could only offer same day

Kerriebank, in Grangemouth, lost four doctors and could only offer same day appointments becoming an “emergencies only” service. NHS Forth Valley had to step in.

appointments – effectively becoming an “emergencies only” service. NHS Forth Valley had to step in.

In April, 2000 patients of the Leith Links Medical Practice had to be farmed out to other practices because it could not recruit three replacement doctors. At the time, local community councillor Jim Scanlon said: “This is a stressful situation... lots of people will want to know why they have been chosen to be uprooted.”

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