FIGURES have revealed that a total of 40 per cent of GP surgeries in Fife have formally closed their lists.

There are now a total of 21 practices across the Kingdom who are unable to take on new patients.

The statistics have been revealed in a report from BMA Scotland who say that General Practice in Scotland is in a "sustainability crisis" with almost a quarter of a million more patients than 10 years ago, and almost 90 fewer GP practices.

Dr Andrew Buist, chair of the BMA’s Scottish GP committee, said the trends were "extremely worrying".

"It is simply unsustainable, and we are seeing that now in the numbers of GP practices which have closed their lists to patients over the past few years because they would be unable to safely provide the level of care required if they continued to take on new patients," he said.

"This year alone at least eight practices have indicated their intention to hand back their contract to their local health board – if the health boards are not in a position to take over the running of those practices, they will close completely, and all of their patients will be dispersed to other practices – further increasing pressures elsewhere and leading to a domino effect of practice closures.

“This is a cause of great worry for GPs, who want to continue giving their patients the best care possible but due to issues around retention, recruitment and funding are unable to meet the level of demand – but not only this, it is very concerning for patients, particularly older and more vulnerable patients who will be left wondering where they go from here, faced with the prospect of a practice that is unfamiliar to them and GPs who do not know their history."

Deputy Medical Director for the Fife Health and Social Care Partnership, Dr Helen Hellewell, said the current pressures are down to a range of factors.

"Many GP practices in Fife currently operate full lists, although continue to accept new babies and patients or family members moving into the area," she said.

"A number of practices in Fife are not accepting requests from patients to move GP registration from one local practice to another.

"There are a number of reasons why this is the case – our population is living longer and requiring greater input from their GP, new build housing can put greater pressures on individual practices, and the nationwide shortage of GPs is making recruitment particularly challenging.

"Most often the pressures on medical practices are as a result of a combination of these factors.

"NHS Fife and Fife Health and Social Care Partnership continue to work closely with medical practices to ensure all patients in Fife have access to a GP within their local area.

"National Service Scotland, Practitioner Service Division can also assist patients in securing registration at a local GP practice."