Important message to our patients following government announcement on general practice funding for 2024/2025

On 31st January 2024, the government’s funding for General Practice for 2024/2025 was announced; the funding uplift is just 1.9%.  A 1.9% funding increase is not going to get close to the funding needed for expanded services, employed staff pay rises and the costs associated with higher energy prices and mortgage rates. As a practice, we are very worried. For context, I thought it might be helpful to explain about the crisis General Practice is facing and how we are funded; if you want to read my full statement, please click on the following link for greater detail  MESSAGE TO OUR PATIENTS FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT ON GENERAL PRACTICE FUNDING FOR 2024 However, please see the at a glance summary below for your convenience:

In summary the following are the main concerns:

  • General Practice is in crisis.
  • The 1.9% pay uplift will not deliver improvements that are badly needed.
  • Regrettably, due to the constant lack of realistic funding from NHSE to General Practice over the past few years, we are having to review some of the services we currently provide and will have to be greatly reduced or cut.  Those that we are having to stop with immediate effect are Coil implants and removals along with contraceptive implants and removals. Moving forward, patients requiring any of these services will be referred on to other sexual health services in Wiltshire.    In addition, we are also having to cease providing ear irrigation services; post 1st April, regrettably, patients will have to pay to have this treatment privately via Specsavers or other commercial providers.  Our aim is to avoid any further cuts in services, however, if further cuts are required to keep the practice viable, we will inform you in good time.
  • We are greatly concerned about practices becoming financially unviable and closing in large numbers.
  • Industrial action is the last thing that GPs and other practice staff would want to see, but sadly we may not have any other option.  The alternative is practices closing in significant numbers over the next 12 months.
  • There are no real negotiations in this, because NHSE reserve the right to impose a contract regardless of General Practice rejecting it or having differing views on it.
  • We are fighting as much for you as we are for ourselves. As our patients, you deserve to know the reality facing your GP Practice and others over the next 12 months.
  • If you wish to voice your support/opinion to us please email me at tinkers.lanesurgery@nhs.net.  Alternatively, if you wish to write to your local MP, James Gray, the email address (from his public website) is jamesgraymp@parliament.uk.