GP services are facing a “retirement time bomb” after shock new statistics revealed more than half of family doctors are over 45.
Figures from the Scottish Government show that 53% of GPs practicing north of the border are approaching the latter stages of their working life.
A fifth of GPs working in Scotland are currently over 55, with 5% aged 60 or over.
Opposition politicians claim the statistics prove that more needs to be done to recruit GPs, or services will suffer.
Health Secretary Shona Robison has announced a number of initiatives in a bid to boost the hiring of younger family doctors.
The Primary Care Workforce Survey also reveals that Scotland has the highest number of GPs per patient in the UK.
But Scottish Conservative North East MSP Peter Chapman warned the number family doctors approaching retirement means services might suffer in the future.
Mr Chapman said: “These figures illustrate the problems in GP provision that we have been highlighting for some time now.
“The study also provides further evidence, if it were needed, that we have an ageing workforce with more than half of all GPs aged 45 or over.
“A recent patient survey laid bare the difficulties people in many parts of north Aberdeenshire have in accessing a GP, and we know that these types of pressures are felt elsewhere.
“The SNP has been in power for almost a decade, yet there is precious little evidence of any forward planning to address this retirement time bomb – an issue they have been warned about for some time now.”
Ms Robison said £2million of funding has already been allocated to recruitment projects across the country.
She added: “This investment will help to get these innovative and exciting projects off the ground – allowing frontline staff to test new ways of working and new models of care that can be rolled out nationally if they are a success.
“It demonstrates our commitment to supporting and developing local GP and primary care services, and working with our partners to do so.
“We have also pledged to increase the number of GPs working in our NHS.
“As the Primary Care Workforce Survey shows, there still remain challenges in recruiting and retaining doctors to work in general practice.
“While Scotland continues to have the highest number of GPs per patient in the UK, we still need to act now to redesign the way care is provided in the community to ensure these services are sustainable in the future.”
