DUMFRIES and Galloway’s Integration Joint Board (IJB) have welcomed news of progress with a review of general medical practices across the region.
At its last meeting in December, recognising the heavy pressure on GP practices across Dumfries and Galloway, the IJB agreed to develop a long-term plan to put GP services on a stable footing.
Today the board heard the findings of initial engagement with GPs, practice managers, nurses and other health care workers. Increasing demand for services, staff shortages, and a need for better IT and data sharing support were all key themes, the report said.
Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership chief officer Nicole Hamlet said: “It is vital for us to listen to the people on the front line. We need to ensure stable, sustainable general medical services for everyone in the region, and the first step in that journey is hearing their concerns.”
“So much has changed in general medical practice in the last few years. Not just the impact of COVID-19, which put pressure on general practices as well as the rest of the health care system, but also the way the practices themselves have evolved.
“Many of our practices now operate as teams of specialist professionals – so the GPs will be working alongside advanced practitioners, primary care mental health nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, and practice nurses.
“We need a long-term plan that safeguards general medical care for everyone in Dumfries and Galloway.”
The engagement continues in parallel with work to analyse the feedback it collects. The findings will be presented to the IJB at its next meeting in June this year. This will be followed by stakeholder workshops and formal consultation, with a final plan due for approval and implementation early in 2026.
The IJB is an independent body responsible for setting out strategic plans for health and adult social care in the region.
Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership is the separate organisation responsible for ensuring that the directions issued by the IJB are implemented by the NHS and Council.
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