Headcount of General Practice Workforce
Data indicates headcount of GP workforce by Health Board and Local Authority as at 30 September for each year presented.
Data
Headcount of General Practice Workforce
Description
Note: This dataset will not be receiving updates through this portal. Please refer to the Public Health Scotland Open Data platform for the relevant data.
Data indicates headcount of GP workforce by Health Board and Local Authority as at 30 September for each year presented. The figures take no account of whether GPs work full or part time. Please note that GPs may hold multiple posts simultaneously therefore the total number of GPs in Scotland may not equal the sum of GPs recorded under Health Board or Local Authority. In line with legislation that came into effect on 1 April 2004, GPs are now collectively termed 'Performers'. The data includes:
* Performer - GP performers that are not salaried, retainees or registrars - i.e. generally the practice partners.
* Performer salaried - GPs who are employed by the practice or NHS Board on a salaried basis.
* Performer retainee - A GP, typically part-time, who can be utilised by a practice as they are required.
* Performer registrar / Specialist Trainee - A medical practitioner who is being trained in general practice
Data excludes GPs working on a locum or sessional basis and the majority of those working only in Out of Hours Services. Data Source for General Practice Workforce: General Practitioner Contractor Database (GPCD), Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland. Further information on GP workforce and practice populations in Scotland is available on the ISD Website
Metadata
| Theme | Health and Social Care |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Public Health Scotland |
| License | UK Open Government Licence (OGL) |
| Published | |
| Last updated | |
| Update frequency | annual |
| Reference period | 2008 to 2019 |
| Geographic coverage | Health Board Areas, Council Areas, Country |
| Contact | phs.generalpractice@phs.scot |
Data quality
Completeness
It is the policy of ISD Scotland to make its web sites and products accessible according to published guidelines.
Uniqueness
Not assessed
Consistency
Scottish GP workforce information is broadly comparable with GP workforce information for the other UK countries. However there are some variations in how the individual GP designations/contract types are described, and care must be taken to ensure that like for like groups are being compared (e.g. whether GP trainees or retainees are or are not included in each group being compared). The headcount information also takes no account of whether differing proportions of GPs in each country work on a full time or part time basis.
Timeliness
Reports data since 2007 as at 30 September for each year presented.
Validity
Some 90% interactions with the health service are made through primary care. This publication makes information available to the Scottish Government and NHS Boards for planning and provision of primary care services. The data are used by epidemiologists to understand public health trends and by other researchers to understand the relationship of health and healthcare to other factors.
Accuracy
Information on GP workforce is collated and recorded routinely by NHS Boards in line with regulatory and operational requirements. This information is therefore considered to have a high degree of overall accuracy.
Quality management
Quality checks are conducted by ISD. Figures are compared to previously published data.
Additional details
Revisions
The data are taken from a dynamic database, with ongoing updating of records. Each year's release includes a refresh of the previous years, and as new information comes to light the numbers may change from those previously published.
In addition, several practices whose health board changed during the 2014 health board boundary changes were recorded against their old health board prior to 2014. These have now been changed to consistently use the 2014 health board boundaries for all years.
Confidentiality policy
The ISD Statistical Disclosure Protocol is followed.