Responding to today's Autumn Statement, Professor Philip Banfield, BMA council chair, said: “It’s welcome news that the Government has listened to our calls to begin re-investing in the health service. However, despite what seem like huge headline numbers, given the current precarious state of the NHS, this is not going to put the NHS back on its feet immediately - but it is a promising start.

“What is glaringly absent from today’s Budget is a concrete plan to rebuild general practice. GPs are the front door of the NHS, and we asked the Government to increase their funding by at least £40 per patient per year – just 11p per day. Instead, the increase in employment costs will squeeze GP practices even further. We need to see immediate reassurance from the Government that it will provide additional funding to general practice to cover these costs.

“Funding general practice properly saves money.  It leads to better patient care and fewer people needing to go to hospital, consequently reducing pressure on the already overstretched NHS.

“The promised 40,000 extra hospital appointments per week will, in the main be delivered by an under resourced workforce, often working in tired and crumbling buildings. The £1 billion allocated to tackle the backlog of repairs and maintenance to dozens of outdated hospitals is way below the £13 billion NHS England estimates it needs. The Health Secretary has already admitted the funding announced by the Chancellor is not enough to fix the NHS and we agree.

“It was sensible to see no further detrimental reforms to pension taxation rules. However, it’s disappointing, at a time when we need all doctors’ hands on deck to clear near-record backlogs in care and huge pressures across the NHS, that the Government has ignored our calls to remove financial barriers to doctors taking on additional work. No doctor should be in the position where they are effectively paying to work. The poorly designed tapered annual allowance means £1 extra in earnings can trigger a tax charge of up to £22,500 on hypothetical pensions growth. Similarly, the taper of the personal allowance and of childcare and child benefit discourages many doctors from taking on additional work, which disproportionally affects women. It will be impossible for the Government to deliver the additional 40,000 evening and weekend appointments each week to clear waiting lists, with doctors declining extra work or reducing hours because of these significant flaws in the tax structure.

“But overall, this signifies intent and will represent genuine progress once general practice costs are properly funded.”

Ends.

Notes to editors

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.