Town planners “must take responsibility” for the impact of development on GP services.
Dr Miles Mack said he welcomed efforts to tackle Scotland’s housing crisis – but suggested not enough consideration was being given to the impact on local health services.
The chairman of the Royal College of GPs Scotland highlighted the example of a 2,000-home development near Elgin as the sort of housing project which could affect access to family doctors.
He said: “What appears to be good news for housing could have disastrous implications for the healthcare service.
“We read of 800 homes for the west of Edinburgh, 2,500 in Stirling, 3,500 near Perth, 750 in Dundee and 2,000 near Elgin.
“The average household size in Scotland, according to analysis of the Scotland Census 2011, is 2.19 people.
“These developments alone then, a portion from a single developer, represent nearly 21,000 people being added to GP practice lists.”
He delivered his warning amid claims Scotland is losing a GP every eight days.
Difficulties with family doctor services have been well documented in the north-east, although the Scottish Government insists it is doing everything it can to recruit more.
Dr Mack added: “The planning system must take responsibility for the impact of decisions on GP services.
“Until they do, patients face uncertainty with the possibility of their practices simply buckling under added pressures.”
The Royal College of GPs has warned it will need to recruit 830 extra family doctors just to return services to the level they were at in 2009.
It recently emerged that £20,000 “golden hellos” designed to encourage GPs to work in rural areas would only be available for five positions across Grampian and the Highlands.
