Call for upfront GP funding

  General practice needs a funding boost now rather than in years to come, the BMA warned in response to a Government pledge of new measures for the profession. BMA GPs committee chair Chaand Nagpaul issued the warning this week after health secretary Jeremy Hunt (pictured) revealed that he would be consulting with the BMA and the Royal College of GPs on issues such as bureaucracy, inspections and funding. Dr Nagpaul said that concrete decisions needed to be made sooner rather than later if the health secretary was to make good on his promise to maintain general practice as the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the NHS. He said: ‘General practice needs vital, upfront funding now rather than a promise of increased funding in years to come. 'It is on the verge of being destabilised as increasing numbers of practices struggle to deliver services and others face closure owing to unfilled GP vacancies, funding cuts and unmanageable workloads. ‘With more patient care being provided in the community, rising demand on services can only be met if general practice has the sustained investment in staff and resources needed to increase capacity. ‘The reality is general practice is in an untenable and fragile situation. We need to see more detail on what the Government is proposing and ensure urgent, practical steps are taken so that patients get the services they deserve and that GPs desperately want to be able to provide.’   Growing pressures In hi...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news