Does variation in employment in GP practices create challenges for realising the vision for primary care in the future, Ms Harper asks.

Sara Conroy notes in England some GP surgeries have employed physios directly, but in Scotland they are employed by health boards.

This makes more sense in terms of governance and for training and development of junior staff coming into the service, she states.

Joanna Instone agrees it is important to consider where continued professional development comes from in whichever model is used.

Image source, bbc

Emma Harper says we need to look at the whole of what is going on with the patient.

The SNP MSP and former nurse asks if patients need to be triaged to specific allied health professionals.

Ms Instone explains dietetic-led care has evolved from giving an algorithm to receptionists to help them to direct a patient to the GP or a dietitian.

Ms Conroy warns against funding silos leading the cash needed for some services ending up in no man's land.

Joanna Inston insists the GP should not automatically be the leader in care, noting dietitians are able to refer patients to a GP if they feel it is required, not just the other way around.

Alison Keir highlights NHS Grampian stroke services are now led by an occupational therapist, having previously been led by a GP, and the length of stay has reduced by two weeks.

SNP MSP Sandra White asks about the impact of the GP contract.

It is an example of unhelpful language, replies Ms Hartley Kean, who goes on to point out it's not just GPs doing incredibly valuable jobs, it's everyone providing care.

She says we need to start breaking down narrow narratives about what AHPs do and change the belief in the community about what they actually do.

The Allied Health Professions Federation Scotland representative reiterates her point that she is heartened by the public's understanding.

Alison Keir says there needs to be earlier intervention, because that has better outcomes for patients and costs less money.

Joanna Instone agrees, adding it is also important to make healthy food affordable and available to people

Former nurse Emma Harper asks about the relationship between primary and secondary care.

Kim Hartley Kean says AHPs often seem to be described as "second class clinicians" and are only used because GPs do not have the time.

We do jobs that GPs do not have the knowledge and skills to do, even if they had the time, she argues.

Image source, Getty Images

Access to and delivery of primary care needs to change, the health committee has concluded.

Following a survey of the general public, the committee said that maintaining the status quo was not an option.

The public also indicated they wanted to experience the benefits of new technology in primary healthcare.

Read the report here., external

SNP MSP Emma Harper asks what the witnesses mean by primary care.

Ms Conroy replies all the services out there in the community that allow the patient to live well in that community.

Some of these are in a "no man's land" and that needs to be addressed, she adds.

Ms Hartley Kean expands on this point, highlighting a gap where the majority of health professionals work in teams where GPs are not part of them.

She says it would be great to have all of this joined up.

Sara Conroy highlights the role of physiotherapists in delivery musculoskeletal (MSK) services and adds the public are on board with this.

There is some work to be done to remind the public of the potential of more of the allied health professions, she says.

Alison Keir says we need to shift patient perception that GPs are there to fix a problem, particularly with long-term conditions, as often it is about managing issues and setting goals.

Image source, bbc

Committee convener Lewis Macdonald says clearly there is a sense that narrow definitions are a problem.

Mr Macdonald asks about the public perception of the multidisciplinary team.

Ms Hartley Kean replies the public have a better view of who is in the multidisciplinary team than is in the official documents.

She says this is heartening and adds the public want to do things differently and receive person centred care in line with that provided by AHPs (allied health professionals).

Alison Keir of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists says social care workers and support staff must be considered part of multi-disciplinary teams.

We are experts and we would be happy to upskill others on these teams, she adds.

She calls for a move away from a medical model of care towards a social model of care.

Joanna Instone of the British Dietetic Association highlights the role of nutrition in all health states and suggests dietitians are often forgotten about.

We need more dietitians in the primary care role, she says, highlighting there are only 681 in Scotland.

Image source, bbc

Kim Hartley Kean, representing the Allied Health Professions Federation Scotland, says the definition of the multidisciplinary team is too narrow.

It should include the 14 HP professions from the allied health, including dietitians and occupational therapists.

Sara Conroy agrees it must include all of the allied health professions.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy representative says the multidisciplinary team goes beyond doctors and nurses.

The convener introduces:

• Kim Hartley Kean, representing the Allied Health Professions Federation Scotland, external
• Sara Conroy from The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, external
• Alison Keir of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, external
• Joanna Instone from the British Dietetic Association, external

Image source, Getty Images

The Health and Sport Committee will commence shortly with the first evidence session on phase 2 of its primary care inquiry.

It is taking evidence from allied health professionals and those that work in multi-disciplinary teams this morning.

Read the meeting papers here., external

And more about the wider inquiry here., external

Image source, Thinkstock

Welcome to BBC Holyrood Live's coverage of the Scottish Parliament for Tuesday 24 September 2019.

This morning, allied health professionals and multi-disciplinary teams will be discussing the future of primary care with the health committee.

After lunch, topical questions will be on waste targets, Serco being the preferred bidder for the Northern Isles ferry service and the Thomas Cook collapse.

Then the constitution committee leads a debate following its report on common frameworks between the UK government and devolved administrations.

Ending the day, Labour MSP Colin Smyth will highlight Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Week.