Statistics released by the British Medical Association last week have shown that while patients requiring treatment have increased across the south of Scotland, the number of GP surgeries have either fallen or stayed the same when comparing 2023 with 2013.

In 2013, Dumfries and Galloway had 34 GP practices, compared with 32 in 2023. However, patients per whole time equivalent (WTE) GP have risen from 1,234 to 1,639.

Across Scotland as a whole, the figures show 1 in 10 GP practices have formally closed their lists to new patients.

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said: “The very existence of primary care in our region is hanging in the balance.

“While the number of GP practices in Dumfries and Galloway has dropped over the past 10 years, demand has actually increased.

“Years of cuts and inaction have left our GPs unsupported with soaring demand and collapsing capacity.

“Without action now, we risk a full-blown primary care crisis in Scotland with thousands of Scots and whole communities without access to their GP.

“GPs are at breaking point. The Health Secretary Michael Matheson must heed the calls of the BMA and Scotland’s doctors and act before it is too late.”