As Wes Streeting’s review kicks off, there is growing evidence on all sides that Labour’s promise to “bring back the family doctor” is headed for failure unless new resources are injected into GP practices.
The BMA is balloting GPs on industrial action to challenge the disastrous below-inflation 1.9% uplift in practice funding for 2024/25, as more GPs throw in the towel and hand back their contracts because of financial pressures.
The most recent closure announcement has been East Barnwell Health Centre – serving 8,000 people in the most deprived area of Cambridge, which has been left “financially unviable” by spiralling costs while funding has fallen further behind.
Costs include service charge rises of 400% in nine years levied by NHS Property Services (NPS). Dr Rachel Harmer told the BBC there had been no explanation of the soaring cost:
“Supposedly these are market forces, but I think any layperson would be surprised that one organisation with NHS in its name is effectively making it impossible for another NHS service to be operational.”
The Forest Practice in Hyson Green in Nottingham is another example of GP partners deciding to serve notice on their contract: the practice will close at the end of October with its patient list dispersed to nearby practices.
Full story in The Lowdown, 21 July 2024