Nurses could be brought in to replace GPs at surgeries in the north east to help win the battle against a shortage of family doctors, it has been claimed.
The board is seeking solutions to the recruitment crisis after one surgery, Brimmond Medical Practice in Bucksburn, announced it was to close in September due to a shortage of GPs
Negotiatins are ongoing with a number of other surgeries in the area as how best to secure GP cover for 8,000 patients now left without a surgery from October 1.
Dr Ken Lawton, north east provost of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said he was concerned for the future of patient care given the strain on patients lists already felt in the city.
He said that “something completely radical” may be required to deal with the crisis caused by high numbers of GPs retiring and fewer medical graduates choosing the career route.
Higher cost of living in the north east is also said to put GPs moving to the area.
Dr Lawton said highly trained nurse practitioners already work with paramedics to provide out-of-hours care to patients at a practice in Elgin and another in Aberdeen.
He said the model could be expanded but that it would require a “major shift in mindset” of patients who may not see a GP when making an appointment at their surgery.
Dr Lawton said: “There are potentially different models which could be looked at to bring some security to patients.
“I think one of the things that is important is the continuity of care, particularly for folk with complex conditions, such as a combination of heart disease and diabetes.
“Nurse practitioners could do the simple stuff, leaving GPs to deal with more complex cases that require more time and problem solving.
He said people with minor illnesses – such as coughs and colds – needed to self-care more to relieve stresses on the system.
Dr Lawton added: “I think if the highly trained practitioners were part of the practice, part of the staff cohort and not coming and going, then it could work.
“However it would take a major change in the mindset of patients, who might have to get used to not so many GPs being around.
“I think it is about trying to reassure them that these people would be trained to the highest level
“I would absolutely say that all primary care should be GP led but where we are struggling to get GPs, we need to be more imaginitive.”
Dr Lawton said he hopes to meet with Judith Proctor, the chief officer for integrated health and social care services at NHS Grampian, to discuss the way forward.
A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said that discussions were ongoing over the future of Brimmond patients
“We continue to work with the practices in the area and local clinical leads to discuss and explore options and models for providing medical services for these patients.
“We will be in touch with patients as there is news to give them, meanwhile patients continue to receive services from Brimmond Medical Group and we remain committed to ensuring that everyone from that practice has access to a GP after 1st October 2015.”