BMA raises concerns that under-resourced doctors are being penalised

The British Medical Association has raised concerns that under-resourced doctors are being penalised, highlighting a pattern where practices with higher funding per person receive netter inspection ratings.

According to a new report, GP practices rated outstanding or good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have benefitted from more funding than those deemed inadequate or requiring improvement.

The report found that practices receiving an outstanding or good rating from the CQC received on average £152 and £140 per patient in funding respectively. In contrast, those rated inadequate received £128 per person, while those rated needs improvement were given £111 per person.

The BMA has called for fairer funding across the country, saying that all practices should be given the same funding at the average outstanding practice.

Chaand Nagpaul, the BMA GP committee chair, said: “This analysis shows there is a clear link between the amount of funding a GP practice receives and the rating it is allocated by the CQC.

“Despite this, the CQC takes no account of resources available to a GP practice when it grades its care, even if this leads to GPs and their staff being publicly shamed with an “inadequate” or “needs improvement” rating.”