A BID to increase GP appointment times to 15 minutes has been rejected at the profession's annual Scottish conference.
Doctors knocked back calls to increase the patient consultation slots from 10 to 15 minutes amid fears that it would lead to longer working hours.
The proposal was tabled at the annual Scottish Local Medical Committee (SLMC) conference in Clydebank on Friday, where regional GP representatives gathered to discuss the terms and conditions they are seeking from the renegotiated GP contract. The new contract will come into effect from 2017 following negotiations with the Scottish Government.
However, it was voted down after attendees voiced concerns that it was "too prescriptive" and would "raise patient expectations". Although a number of GPs agreed that they needed to spend more time with patients, there was also worry that "15 minutes will run into 20 minutes".
Andrew McNab, a West Lothian GP, said: "In the current circumstances, 15 minute appointments aren't the answer.
"The demand for appointments would increase. I'm working from 8am to 6.30pm now - if I had to deliver 15 minute appointments then I would be there until 10pm."
Dr Andrew McDevitt, chairman of the BMA's Scottish GP committee told the conference that the "sentiment was good" but added that he believed it would be a "constricting" and "a mistake" to set fixed 15 minutes appointments.
Earlier, Mr McDevitt told the conference that a rising workload combined with a recruitment and retention crisis had pushed the workforce to its limits.
He said: "GP morale is at an all time low and workload intensity is unsustainable. Something has to change, and it has to change now, because if we allow this situation to continue, general practice will break.
"We know there isn't a single magic bullet that can solve all the problems facing general practice, but I do believe now is the time for us in Scotland to refocus the role of the GP."
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