Adding GPs to ARRS funding is like ‘sticking a plaster on a gaping wound’, says DAUK’s Dr Steve Taylor.
Dr Taylor said the funding of general practice was harming patient care, as he called for GP to patient ratios to be improved.
Now he has renewed calls by the Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) for the Government to invest in general practice for the good of the nation’s health.
Dr Taylor, DAUK GP spokesperson, was responding to a new report by the Institute for Government think tank.
Issues facing general practice
“The Institute for Government report again highlights the issues facing general practice, while highlighting what works well,” he said.
“There are too few GPs and too few GPs taking up positions as partners.
“This is despite clear evidence that more GPs and GP partnerships improve patient care, outcomes, and quality.
“Smaller practices are shown to be better overall.”
Writing for GP Online earlier this week, Dr Taylor urged the Government to general practice directly to allow them to recruit GPs of any experience.
Government investment
Now he has renewed DAUK’s calls for sustained Government investment in general practice.
He said: “DAUK’s GP committee again calls for Wes Streeting, NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care to invest in GP practices.
“There is a clear consensus GP to patient ratios need to be improved. The only way to do this is to fund practices to employ, retain and recruit GPs.
“We believe setting an initial limit of 3,000 patients per GP, with investment and incentives, will reverse 15 years of decline in GP numbers.
Sticking plaster
“The emergency strategy of adding ARRS GPs is merely a sticking plaster on a gaping wound. The wound is GP practice funding is harming patient care.”
Read the Institute for Government report.
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