GPs have heard a call for more funding to help address the challenges they are facing. Speaking at today’s Local Medical Committee Conference (LMC) the leader for GPs in Northern Ireland, Dr Frances O’Hagan, said that GPs were facing a range of issues that increased the pressures they were facing and meant the risk of more practices closing had not gone away.

Speaking today Dr O’Hagan said, “We entered, in good faith, negotiations for the 24/25 GMS contract and the aim was to stabilize general practice, move funding into core and see an interim indemnity solution. We did achieve the majority of this, but there were challenges including our pay uplift as recommended by DDRB. This must be paid in full. The other three devolved nations have been paid and there has been an above DDRB award in Scotland. Anything less here means that GPs in Northern Ireland fall even further behind our colleagues in the other nations.

“Indemnity is another unresolved problem that affects only GPs in Northern Ireland. We were promised a solution the previous Minister and we were also promised a paper on a solution for here by calendar year end. The minister has said that he is committed to that, and we want to see a solution implemented by April 25, with additional funding that is ring fenced.

“GP practices are also facing a problem caused by the Chancellor's budget and the increase in National Insurance Contributions. GPs will have to find the money to pay the increased contributions, and it will cost practices tens of thousands of pounds. This will lead to reductions in staffing, including salaried GPs, practice nurses, and admin staff, or even an increase in practice handbacks.

“None of these options are good for GPs and none of these options are good for patient access. These costs must be either offset by a reversal of the decision by the Chancellor, or with additional funding.

“The Audit Office report this year said that the spending in general practice was just 5.4% of the health budget. This is unbelievably low, considering we do in excess of 90% of the consultations in the NHS in Northern Ireland. Our work is actually increasing because of the lengthy waiting times, our patients keep coming back to us whilst they're waiting to be seen in secondary care.

“We need commitment from the Department, that this percentage will increase so we can provide a better service to our patients. We need a commitment for an incremental increase year on year going forward to give patients a service that they deserve from general practice.

“The Audit Office also said that the number of GPs in training needs to increase. We have a commitment from the Department to recommend an increase the GP training numbers, and we need to work on that now as a matter of urgency.

“In a recent survey of all GPs the performers list, 49% of GP's who responded, said they were likely to leave general practice in the next five years, 52 of those were planned retirements, but 200 were not. This is really worrying. The reasons given was that daytime job was just too pressurized.

“Getting sufficient new GPs into the system is really important, but retaining the current workforce now appears to be an even bigger priority. We need to value all GPs and ensure that the day job is less pressurized and more rewarding and we're able to provide an excellent service to all our patients.”

 

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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.

The LMC conference is taking place in Belfast on 16 November 2023. A full list of the outcome of motions will be available at the end of conference.