New GP contractpublished at 11:07 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Ms Robison says the government is working very constructively with the BMA on the new GP contract
Summary
The Health Committee takes evidence on GP recruitment
NHS staff concerns are raised in topical questions
The government leads a debate on securing the interests of the country's rural economy following the Brexit vote
Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon leads this afternoon's members debate on feminine hygiene products
New GP contractpublished at 11:07 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Health secretary says the government has increased GP training places by 100published at 11:07 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Health Secretary Shona Robison says she has set out her vision for a community health service with a wider group of skilled professionals, tailored to local needs.
Ms Robison says there will be an enhanced role for nurses and other AHPs.
The health secretary says the focus is on improving primary care.
She says as investment grows the more successful pilots and tests will be rolled out.
Ms Robison says the bulk of investment should be going to primary care.
She says the government has increased GP training places by 100.
'It is clear the profession is under pressure'published at 11:05 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Health Secretary Shona Robison says general practice is at the very heart of the NHS and it must be ensured that GPs are supported.
Ms Robison says it is clear the profession is under pressure and there are challenges.
Scottish government primary care vision and outcomespublished at 11:03 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Image source, Scottish governmentLetter from the health secretarypublished at 11:00 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
In her letter to committee, Health Secretary Shona Robison concluded saying:
Image source, Scottish ParliamentRead the whole letter here in the Health Committee's papers, external.
That ends the first evidence session the health secretary is nextpublished at 10:59 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Image source, PAThe committee will now quiz the Health Secretary Shona Robison on GP recruitment and primary care.
Need for more locally domiciled medical studentspublished at 10:58 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Conservative MSP Miles Briggs asks how universities can be encouraged to take on more Scottish medical students.
Gerry Lawrie from NHS Grampian says she is disappointed Aberdeen University has taken less Scotland domiciled students.
Ms Lawrie strongly emphasises the need to get local medical students trained.
Complex cases coming to general practicepublished at 10:52 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Dr Alan McDevitt says patients don't just come with one thing it's like a supermarket they come with more than five items.
Calls for more funding for GPspublished at 10:50 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
SNP MSP Ivan McKee says the government is talking about a shift to primary care in funding.
Dr Mack says the government must invest in the right place as in the last budget there was only a real terms GMS rise of 1.5%, which was disappointing.
Dr McDevitt says there must be an absolute spend on general practice.
'The presumption of care should be your own home.'published at 10:41 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
SNP MSP Maree Todd asks if GPs should be working in community hospitals.
Dr McDevitt says we should not get tied up by buildings and community hospitals can be invaluable but other times its better for the professionals to go to the patient.
"The presumption of care should be your own home."
The role of the GP is getting much more complicated says BMApublished at 10:40 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Dr Alan McDevitt from the BMA says people have multimorbidity now and one of the beauties of general practice is engaging with the whole person.
Dr McDevitt says the ageing population must be treated close to home.
He says this is a huge challenge and the role of the GP much more complicated.
Real time equivalent GP numbers down by 2% says RCGPpublished at 10:37 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Green MSP Alison Johnstone says the Scottish government says GP numbers have increased by 7%.
Ms Johnstone asks if this increase is addressing health inequality.
Dr Mack says that is head count not real time equivalent and the trend is downward by 2%.
Some staff believe NHS contracts 'not fit for purpose'published at 10:36 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Dr Miles Mack says salaried posts seem to be more attractive because some medical staff believe NHS contracts are not fit for purpose.
Dr Mack says people often prefer to be salaried to practices rather than health boards a lot of the time.
Crucial role of nurses, AHPs, pharmacists and the third sector highlightedpublished at 10:30 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Lesley McLay from NHS Tayside highlights the crucial role of allied health professionals and pharmacists in GP practices.
Ms McLay says there are really good examples developing in primary care.
She also says the third sector contributes to this and is absolutely core to the multidisciplinary team.
More work needs to be done on equity of access to medical schoolspublished at 10:26 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Dr Alan McDevitt says it will always be hard to get into medicine because of competitive demand.
Image source, PADr McDevitt says there has to be equity of access and more work needs to be done.
Dr Miles Mack says only 50% of medical students are domiciled in Scotland.
Doctor says general practice requires investment nowpublished at 10:21 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Dr Alan McDevitt from the British Medical Association says general practice requires investment now.
The doctor says general practice is the hub where most people come into contact with the NHS.
"The parliament and the government need to make that investment even though times are hard."
'It seems work force planning has gone awry'published at 10:20 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Dr Miles Mack from the Royal College of General Practitioners says the percentage of funding going to general practice must rise.
Dr Mack says there needs to be a wider multidisciplinary team providing primary care.
Dr Mack says the workforce survey says 2% of GPs have been lost in last two years
"It seems work force planning has gone awry."
Agency staff can make a contributionpublished at 10:18 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Lesley McLay, Chief Executive of NHS Tayside, says there are a number of workforce challenges.
Ms McLay says the vacancy levels at NHS Tayside are generally consistent and currently the average age of the workforce is around 55.
She says the agency team can make a contribution to meeting patient demand at the moment.
'Think GP'published at 10:14 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
Image caption, 'Think GP'
Dr Miles Mack from the Royal College of General Practitioners says the college is trying to change the way people think of GPs.
Dr Mack says he understands the concerns about the word crisis.
He goes on to says: "I believe we have to tell the truth."
Crisis or not?published at 10:11 British Summer Time 27 September 2016
SNP MSP Tom Arthur asks if the panel thinks use of the crisis contributes to the solution.
Mr Arthur asks if the language can be re-framed.
Dr Alan McDevitt says the perception of general practice has to be changed to attract young doctors.
"It is vital to change the mood music."
Image caption, MSPs disagree over the term crisis
The chair of the Scottish General Practitioners Committee with the British Medical Association says he is not fond of the term crisis, but that is what they are hearing and there is certainly major problem.
Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says: "I believe we are in an absolute crisis."