A SCOTTISH Government funding boost of more than £9 million for general practice improvements has been praised by GPs.

The cash was announced yesterday as part of an earlier commitment by Holyrood to increase GP funding by £250m by 2021. The £9.34m will be used to improve internet connectivity and support the implementation of Attend Anywhere, a virtual clinic that lets patients and doctors speak using video calls.

Patricia Moultrie, the deputy chairwoman of the Scottish GP Committee, welcomed the cash. She said: “This is welcome funding for GP premises and will allow partners to improve their practices and give much-need updates to IT systems.

“This funding is definitely a step in the right direction in regards to making premises fit for the multidisciplinary teams working within general practice in the

future, as we look towards the development of Phase 2 of the GP contract.”

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “This funding together with our wider reform programme will mean additional staff working in primary care, providing better services for patients and allowing them to see the right person at the right time.”