03.10.13
RCGP warns of looming ‘catastrophe’
General practice has suffered a £400m fall in its budget over the past three years, analysis by the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) shows.
The figures were released at the RCGP annual conference today, with warnings that GPs were being expected to do more work with fewer resources. Over 90% of patient contacts are carried out in general practice but it only receives 9% of the total NHS budget. Funding going to hospitals continues to rise.
In 2012/13, real terms investment in general practice fell to £8,459m from £8,865m in 2009/10.
RCGP chair Clare Gerada said: “Our figures should send out a warning to government and the rest of the NHS that we will soon have a catastrophe on our hands if urgent action is not taken to reverse the decline in funding. GPs are keen to do more for their patients, but we are heaving under the pressure of ever-increasing workloads and diminishing resources.
“Some of us are routinely working 11-hour days with up to 60 patient contacts in a single day and this is not safe or sustainable. You do not want a tired GP seeing you. You do not want a tired GP any more than you want a tired pilot or a tired surgeon.”
Patients’ Association chief executive Katherine Murphy said: “This chimes with what patients are saying to us. They are finding it harder to access GPs both in and out of hours.
“The mantra is about moving care out of hospitals and into the community, but if we are going to achieve that we have to stop throwing money at hospitals and invest in GPs so they can provide quality care.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]