Dear member,
Today NHS Digital has published the report Investment in General Practice, 2014/15 to 2018/19, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
This report details the investment in General Practice and the reimbursement for drugs dispensed in General Practices from 2014/15 to 2018/19.
The report draws on information from the financial reporting systems of the health departments of each country, and other published data on reimbursement and remuneration for dispensing activity.
The report reveals a 1.4% increase on the previous year in investment in general practice, and represents just 8.1% of the NHS budget going to general practice – falling far short of the BMA’s demand of 11%. The report also includes elements such as drug reimbursement and services in hospitals and therefore does not accurately represent the money reaching practices and patients.
Responding to the report Richard Vautrey, GPC chair, said: ‘For too long investment has not kept up with the demands being placed on general practice, and the marginal increase in the year up to April this year – itself far smaller than in previous years – is completely inadequate.
‘Over the same time period the number of patients registered at practices in England went up by more than 700,000 and we lost more than 500 full-time equivalent GPs – meaning doctors and their teams are being stretched to their limits.’ Read the full statement