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Liberal Democrats in Scotland want to see more nurses in GP practices

by
19 April 2016

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The Liberal Democrats in Scotland want to see more nurses, allied health professionals and counsellors at GP practices.

The package is part of the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ package to plug a predicted shortfall of GPs by 2020 and was revealed as part of the party’s manifesto ahead of 5 May parliamentary elections.

Unveiling his party’s manifesto Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said he wants the health minister to publish an annual report on workforce planning and wanted the government to work on recruiting and retaining staff.

He also announced that his party wanted to work with the royal colleges to reduce “detailed targets that get in the way of effective clinical planning”.

Liberal Democrats in Scotland also want to increase the share of the health budget on mental health, with a doubling of money spent on young people.

If they won power the party aimed to give GPs in more deprived areas more resources to help tackle health inequalities.

The Lib Dems also pledged to fund the Scottish NHS so it stays ahead of inflation.

The manifesto said: “Our investment in mental health services, GPs and primary care, together with the joining up of health and social care will be underpinned by solid funding for the NHS.”