成人快手

Scotland's GPs are at the frontline of cradle to grave healthcare. Every day over 90,000 people visit their GP but, as the number of consultations has risen three times faster than the number of GPs, it is a service under strain.

This three-part series goes behind the scenes at Elgin Health Centre, one of Scotland's busiest GP Practices, to reveal the reality of running a service with an acute shortage of GPs and ever more stretched resources.

In the first episode, the focus is on the GPs themselves as they try to meet patient demand. A third of GPs aim to retire in the next five years, leaving Scotland facing a recruitment crisis. The Elgin Medical Centre is one of the few which has secured the appointment of a newly qualified GP. But since two of the practice's senior GPs hope to retire very soon, the challenge facing the staff is far from over.

Dr Ron Stewart, the longest-serving of the six full-time GPs, is one of those hoping to retire. The changes he has seen in his 32 years as a family doctor have been immense. Where once the local doctor was limited in what he or she could do for a patient, increased knowledge and increased patient expectations mean that the GP is busier than ever. Sticking to the recommended ten-minute appointment time is a challenge for both Dr Stewart and Dr Cattanach, despite their differing levels of experience.

As Dr Stewart deals with a patient with a long list of medical issues and another with long-term anxiety, Dr Cattanach has concerns that one of her patient's prognosis may be worsening. The daily challenges are brought into sharp focus with the unexpected announcement that another senior GP intends to step down, threatening the practice's long-term plans.