£1.5 billion to increase general practice appointments

NHS England and the government have jointly committed at least an additional £1.5 billion in total for general practice over the next four years for additional staff.

Marking a key step towards delivering 50 million more appointments in general practice by 2024, the funding is for the recruitment of 6,000 more primary care professionals as well as for initiatives to support the recruitment and retention of doctors in general practice.

The General Practice Contract for 2020/21 includes a roadmap for delivering the numbers of doctors in general practice by 6,000 and bring in 26,000 new staff to bolster surgeries. This will include pharmacists, physiotherapists, dieticians and occupational therapists, who will become a core part of local primary care teams, reducing pressure on general practice and ensure patients can see or speak to the right clinician.

The contract will also offer more check-ups for new mums as part of a major deal with England’s family doctors, regular visits for care home residents, assessing medication and new incentives to increase uptake of vaccinations and expanding social prescribing referrals.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I want the NHS to be there for everyone when they need it, and to take pressure off hospitals by expanding primary care. This new contract is the first step to delivering our manifesto commitment to make it easier to get a GP appointment when you need it by delivering 50 million more appointments a year in general practice.

“The significant additional investment means GP surgeries can recruit more pharmacists, physiotherapists and other health professionals so patients get the right care for them when they need it. It’s all part of our commitment to ensure the NHS is always there for everyone.”

Sir Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said: “This agreement funds a major increase in general practice staff - including GPs, therapists and pharmacists - so that patients can get quicker appointments with a wide range of skilled health professionals at their local doctors’ surgery. These extra staff will in turn be offering expanded services, including regular health checks for people living in care homes, action to boost vaccination uptake, earlier cancer detection, and better support for people with learning disabilities.

“Coming on the heels of the highest ever number of young doctors now choosing to train as GPs, this is a vote of confidence in general practice that goes with the grain both of what patients need and what GPs themselves want to provide.”