"I can't get a GP appointment and it's putting my life in danger" Stroke survivor's fears over lack of doctors

Get the latest Daily Record breaking news on WhatsApp

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info

Join us on WhatsApp

Stroke survivor Clare Dempster, from Erskine in Renfrewshire, said she is “never” able to get an appointment with her GP. The 56-year-old - who suffered two strokes in August last year - has been unable to speak to a doctor several times after problems with her medication.

The mother-of-two said the situation is “putting my life in danger”. It comes as the number of patients per GP in Scotland has increased by 15 per cent in just over a decade. Clare is among those who have been unable to get an appointment due to the increase in demand.

She told the Record: “I can never get an appointment. I had two strokes at the same time in August last year. I have to get medication and I have to phone up for a repeat prescription. But sometimes it’s not there.

“I can’t go without the medication. I could have another stroke without it. I told the surgery I have had problems with my medication and that I want to speak to a GP.

“But you have to phone up at 8:30am for an appointment. I do that, but have then been told that they are all taken up. There are just so many people phoning at that time to speak to a doctor. It’s not a good situation. It is putting my life in danger.”

She added: “I have even tried to get another surgery to take me on but they told me they have no room.”

GP workforce data has shown that there are now 227 more patients per GP than 11 years ago. There are currently 1,743 patients per GP. This is up from 1,515 patients per GP in 2013.

The number of full-time equivalent GPs declined by 222 in the same period. It went down from 3,675 in 2013 to 3,453 this year.

The British Medical Association and Royal College of GPs have both said Scotland needs more GPs.

To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here

Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.