A MAJOR effort to shape the future of general medical services (GMS) in Dumfries and Galloway has taken a significant step forward, following extensive engagement with healthcare professionals and the public.

In its 3 June meeting, Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board (IJB) endorsed a detailed analysis of stakeholder feedback and supporting evidence, clearing the way for the next phase of a review that aims to secure high-quality, sustainable GP services for the region.

Speaking after the meeting, IJB Chair Kim Dams said: “This isn’t just a refresh — it’s a fundamental rethink of how we deliver care. The pressures on general practice are immense, but this review puts us on a path toward a model that is modern, resilient, and person-centred.

“Importantly, the new approaches which emerge from this work will align with and support the delivery of the national 2018 contract for provision of general medical services.”

At the heart of the review is a focus on making the best use of the current workforce to provide assessment, treatment, and care planning, while also developing a future workforce plan that’s designed to meet expected needs and support new ways of working.

The project has been shaped by engagement with over 300 individuals, including GPs, multidisciplinary staff, and the public, and has been backed by national and international evidence on what makes primary care systems work.

Nicole Hamlet, Interim Chief Officer of the Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “We’ve heard loud and clear that people want general practice to be accessible, joined-up, and built on relationships. This review is about responding to that call — not with quick fixes, but with a vision shaped by those who use and deliver these services every day.”

Key findings from the engagement revealed frustration with access models like the ‘8am phone line’, and a desire for more human, continuous care — especially in rural communities. Stakeholders also identified digital tools as a valuable part of modern practice. However, they stressed that they must enhance, not replace, the personal connection between patient and clinician.

Workforce concerns dominated the feedback, with many professionals reporting burnout and calling for better role clarity, team-based working, and flexible career options. The review will explore how practices could work together more in the future – sharing skills, experience, expertise and resources to better meet the needs of their patients.

The initiative also highlights the need for improved premises and IT infrastructure, as well as smarter use of data to support planning and quality improvement.

International models — such those seen in the Netherlands and care pathways in France — are being studied for insights into how Dumfries and Galloway might adapt successful approaches.

The review’s next phase, currently in development, will focus on developing options for change, using the principles of equity, integration, and sustainability as the foundation for decision-making. Further engagement will support the development of realistic and locally relevant options, with careful consideration being given to the practical challenges and opportunities identified so far.

Ms Dams said: “This is about much more than preserving what we have. It’s about co-designing a system that meets today’s needs and is ready for tomorrow’s. Our practices, staff, and communities are ready for that conversation — and now, so are we.”

A draft model is expected to be shared for wider engagement later this year, with a full vision due in early 2026.

HEALTH and social care services in Dumfries and Galloway continue to face severe financial pressure – with a savings target of £30.7 million set for the current financial year.

At the 3 June meeting of the Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board (IJB), members approved the latest iteration of the 2025/26 financial plan which confirms that more than around half of the potential savings have so far been identified. However, significant further work is needed to meet the total required.

Chief Finance Officer Katy Kerr described the target as ‘ambitious but essential’ and warned that the scale of the challenge will require ‘difficult decisions and transformation’ across both NHS and council-delivered services.

Mrs Kerr said: “We’ve made substantial progress in identifying savings schemes, with over half of the target now scoped. But we are under no illusion about the challenge ahead. The pressures we are dealing with — particularly around pay, prescribing, and care delivery — are systemic and unprecedented.”

Of the £30.7 million savings target for 2025/26, £18.2 million relates to services delegated to NHS Dumfries and Galloway by the IJB, while £12.5 million is to be delivered from adult social care services delegated from Dumfries and Galloway Council.

A range of savings and transformation work is under way, supported by groups including a dedicated Financial Recovery Board and a joint council-NHS planning team. Areas being explored include medicines optimisation, energy efficiency, contract reviews, and new models of care delivery

The Integration Joint Board also noted that no additional financial support will be available from the Scottish Government this year, and that IJB reserves are now almost entirely depleted.

The IJB has directed its NHS and council partners to operate within updated budgets of £428 million and £118 million respectively, with ongoing financial performance monitoring and quarterly reporting in place.

Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board Chair Kim Dams said: “This is a very serious financial position and we must be realistic about the scale of the challenge ahead.

“Our responsibility is to protect vital services while making sure they are financially sustainable. That will require tough decisions, but also real collaboration across our health and care system.”

A further update on the savings programme and associated decisions will be presented to the IJB later this summer.

FASTER treatment, stronger recovery support and greater involvement of people with lived experience are among the major gains in local drug and alcohol services over the past year.

Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board (IJB) has endorsed the Annual Reporting Survey submitted by the region’s Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP), highlighting its achievements in improving outcomes and saving lives.

Speaking after the IJB meeting on 3 June, ADP Strategic Lead Jackie Davies said: “The annual survey demonstrates the range of work being delivered to support the national mission to reduce drug deaths. It highlights the ongoing partnership work between statutory and third sector organisations with those people and families who are directly affected by drug and alcohol use.

“Through a year of strengthened collaboration, faster access to support, and increased involvement of people with lived experience, there has been obvious progress showing the wide range of ongoing efforts to reduce the impact of drug and alcohol use in Dumfries and Galloway.”

The report details a robust local response to Scotland’s National Mission on drug deaths and harms. Among the standout achievements are:

·  Real-time overdose monitoring and assertive outreach, enabling services to respond quickly to non-fatal overdoses and prevent further harm.

·  Faster access to treatment through improvements in the delivery of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), supported by direct feedback from people in treatment.

·  A new post-rehabilitation support pathway, offering talking therapies and better continuity of care for those completing residential programmes.

·  Expanded opportunities for people with lived and living experience to shape services, from planning forums and working groups to strategy development sessions.

·  A Whole Family Approach, supporting children and adults affected by a loved one’s substance use with counselling, parenting programmes, and family-specific recovery groups.

The ADP has also taken steps to address persistent challenges — from gaps in rural provision to workforce pressures. Revised pathways, a renewed focus on stigma reduction, and better integration with justice, mental health, and housing services all form part of a joined-up approach aimed at tackling the root causes of harm.

Nicole Hamlet, Interim Chief Officer of Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “The ADP is doing important work — not only reacting to immediate risk, but investing in prevention and long-term support. We are seeing practical steps being taken to embed recovery, reduce stigma, and ensure that people and families get the help they need, when they need it.”

Challenges remain, including improving access for marginalised groups and addressing demand for harm reduction tools like drug checking and safer-use equipment. However, the ADP has shown agility in adapting to emerging threats — including contaminated drugs — by strengthening its Local Early Warning System (LEWS) and updating local protocols.

A draft anti-stigma strategy is now in development, created in partnership with the Community Justice Partnership and Violence Against Women and Girls partnership. It is expected to play a key role in making services more inclusive and trauma-informed.

Looking ahead, the ADP will focus on sustaining recent progress, improving engagement with primary care, and continuing to invest in workforce wellbeing and capacity.

Ms Davies said: “Our partners, services, and communities have been working incredibly hard. What’s most encouraging is that people with lived experience are not just being listened to — they are helping to lead the change. That’s exactly the direction we need to keep moving in.”

The full report will inform national policy as part of the 2024/25 ADP Annual Survey and is available through the Scottish Government.