Doctors in Scotland are each looking after almost 100 more patients than two years ago as the NHS hits ‘breaking point’.

The number of patients registered with a GP has risen by 2 per cent over that period to 5.9million.

There are now 1,687 patients per whole-time equivalent GP in Scotland, compared with 1,592 two years ago.

It comes amid growing concern at the number who are still not receiving face-to-face appointments at surgeries.

Latest figures show that 2.4million physical GP appointments took place in the month of March 2023 – roughly 185,000 fewer than in March 2019.

While patient numbers rise, the SNP Government has cut £5million from the sum promised to GP practices as part of a sustainability fund and slashed £65million from the Primary Care Development Fund.

Scottish Labour health spokesman Jackie Baillie said: ‘The facts are clear for all to see – primary care in Scotland is at breaking point.

‘Scotland’s GPs are facing a perfect storm of increased demand and reduced funding – with primary care taking on more and more responsibilities due to the wider NHS crisis.

‘[Health Secretary] Michael Matheson must recognise the scale of the crisis facing primary care in Scotland and act to bolster GPs across Scotland.’

Want to see Scotland under the SNP?