GPs in row over increased hours

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Doctors could be heading for a clash with the Scottish Government over plans to encourage them to work in the evenings and at weekends.

The British Medical Association said its members are likely to refuse to open longer hours which will effectively mean them taking a pay cut.

The working hours was put forward by health secretary Nicola Sturgeon.

She wants GPs to make their hours more suitable for office workers who have to take time off to see a doctor.

It is estimated this costs the British economy £1bn per year.

However, doctors say they have been betrayed by the government, having only negotiated a new contract in 2004 which saw most of them receiving a significant pay rise.

This is about making sure patients have access that's convenient for them Nicola Sturgeon Health Secretary

Doctors in England will get no new money to open later or at weekends, in Scotland there is new funding attached, but doctors have said that thus will not cover their costs.

Dr Robert Tobin, who works for a practice in Hamilton, said that GPs were angry about the way the deal was being imposed on them and that many would not offer the out of hours service.

He said: "We have a contract with the government which can only be changed by negotiation and mutual agreement.

"The government have broken the contract and they are unilaterally imposing changes that cut our practice funding.

More harm

"With any limited resource, if you stretch it too far something has to give and at the moment the transfer of resources to evenings and weekends will have a negative impact on the care provided during normal working hours, which is when the vast majority of patients need and want to be seen."

He added that the plans could do more harm than good.

Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland, Health Secretary Nicola sturgeon said she could understand that GPs were angry but she said the offer on the table was not being imposed.

She said: "We have been and continue to be in negotiations with GPs about the detail of the implementation, but it's a good offer because it does deliver extended access, around two and a half hours a week for the average practice that will avoid people having to take time off to go to their doctor, and in return doctors will get additional investment".

She went on: "This is about making sure patients have access that's convenient for them.

"Nobody's suggesting that doctors go back to the old days of 24-hour working, but we do know there is a demand from patients to be able to see their GPs without taking time off work and I think that's right."