SPENDING on general practice must be doubled, medics say as they warn time is running out to “rescue” the service.

The new chair of the BMA Scottish general practitioners committee, Dr Iain Morrison, has warned that the share of NHS Scotland cash spent on the practice has fallen from 11 to 6.5 per cent since 2004.

He argued that a “huge shift” in approach is needed and that 1,800 new GPs are needed to meet the ambition of providing one GP for every thousand Scots.

Dr Morrison said: “For the NHS to once again be a jewel in the country’s crown, we must see our slice of the NHS budget rise to 15 per cent.

“I truly believe that we have a finite period by which we can turn the tide and rescue general practice.

“General practice must be supported if the public want free, accessible, quality healthcare for the nation.”

A Scottish government spokesperson responded: “GPs are essential to the delivery of high quality, sustainable general practice services and we are determined to increase the number of GPs in Scotland by 800, by 2027.”