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GP Collective Action
The General Practice budget was 11% of the total NHS spend – now its 5.2%
How can General Practice survive?
You will have heard that GP Practices nationwide are undertaking industrial action/collective action.
Firstly, we are not going on strike - we are taking action to ensure General Practice can continue to provide a safe service.
Why do we need to take this action?
- General Practice is underfunded and funding is being cut every year.
- General practice receives 5.2% of NHS funding compared with a previous 11%. This funding continues to fall. Despite this, 5 million more appointments are being provided every month than before COVID.
- There are 1300 fewer GP practices in England than there were 10 years ago.
- There are 1700 fewer full time GPs than there were 10 years ago.
- General Practice is the only area of the NHS being hit by the National Insurance rise.
- Fewer and fewer GPs coming through training are staying in the country or even in medicine.
- Seaford has lost 3 excellent, fully qualified GPs to Australia in the last 5 years.
- Annual GP funding per patient in general practice is less than the average dog insurance.
What industrial action are we taking?
Nothing that will impact on your care directly.
We are disengaging with some elements of NHS Information Technology resources that provide no significant benefit to patients and use GP time inappropriately e.g. using lengthy referral templates when a simple referral letter will suffice.
We are asking hospitals to take full responsibility for tests and examinations that they request and to monitor patients with significant ongoing conditions rather than pass that work to general practice.
The aim is not to interfere with patient care but to put pressure on NHS England and the Government, reminding them of the desperate need to help General Practice.
What is needed from the Government?
Honesty from government about the perilous state of General Practice.
Funding allowing investment in staff and estates to ensure that practices stay open, allowing us to provide more appointments and better care for patients.
General Practice is working harder for less.
If no urgent change is made by NHS England and the Government, we will be gone forever!
Published: Dec 20, 2024