GPIT, wine and farming in Dumfries and Galloway

In this month’s episode we visit Dumfries and Galloway, the latest stop in our trip around the regions. We speak with Dr Neil Kelly, a familiar voice on the SNUG podcast, and discuss life in the South of Scotland and how things are going with preparations for GP system change, how the local project team and facilitators have become  confident in managing the change, and the importance of supporting staff during the transition.  Neil has reduced his GP leadership workload and developed a new interest in farming, but still has plenty of reflections on the evolving nature of general practice, the increase in telephone consultations, the occasional trivia of eConsult requests and why video consultations haven't taken off.

We discussed some of the difficulties with integrating systems like digital dictation, ECGs, and spirometry into the new IT environment, due to budget limitations. He’s impressed by Heidi Health, which shows promise in saving time through note-taking and digital dictation, and also discusses the potential benefits of Digital Dermatology, with his practice being one of the early adopters.

Neil remains optimistic about the future of general practice in Scotland, contrasting it with the more corporate approach in England. He points out the positive impact of additional support staff like pharmacists, mental health nurses, and the importance of having GPs handle complex tasks. Despite fears of GPs being replaced by other practitioners, Neil believes GPs remain highly efficient and cost-effective.

Listen to the end for some wine and book recommendations!

Travel Scotland guide to Dumfries and Galloway

Things to do in D&G

Advice for beginning farmers

The Wine Society

The Partisan – a book review

Now I’m a farmer – The Who