A DRAFT plan for the future of GP care in West Dunbartonshire has been approved.
The board of West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) created the broad plan after the introduction of a new government contract earlier this year with GPs designed to move some services out of doctors’ offices to allow them more time and focus on patients who need it.
There are 74 GPs working in West Dunbartonshire but more than a third of practices expect to have one or more retiring in the next three years, said a report to the board.
Councillor Marie McNair said she often heard from constituents unable to get through by phone to their practices.
Board chairman Allan Macleod agreed and said he hoped one of the outcomes of the new contract would be fewer people calling GPs for appointments because they would be accessing other services.
He added: “It’s a frustration - I think we’ve all been there.”
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