Imposed contract is a risk to stability Practice managers believe the new contract for GPs poses a risk to the “stability” of general practice, and the IGPM says it’s been inundated with comments from its members. The IGPM says the key problem is the limited uplift in funding at 2%, while the National Living Wage…

Managers campaign to save general practice Practice managers have launched a campaign to “save general practice”, highlighting the pressures and strains they face. The campaign from the IGPM calls on patients to write to their MPs asking them to support the campaign. It follows the imposition of the new GP contract with a funding increase…

General practice contract imposed as taskforce promised Imposed last night by NHS England, practices are to get a small funding increase of 2.23% as part of this year’s contract. The BMA is now set to run a ballot of GPs next month over whether to take protest action. The contract will require practices to “consider”…

Dispute over growing appointment numbers GP and NHS leaders have clashed over another upsurge in appointment requests. NHS England says the nearly 26 million appointments in December demonstrate progress in improving primary care, while the Royal College of GPs says it shows that pressure on practices is becoming even more intolerable. NHS England National Director…

Cloud phones hit practice budgets The BMA has warned that practices are facing rising costs while trying to implement cloud-based telephony. Implementation was included in the GP contract as a key factor in helping practices handle appointments. But some practices are facing huge increases in the costs of phone systems. The BMA has warned that…

Contract proposal would mean “awful choices” The BMA is planning a referendum of GPs if the Government sticks to the proposed 1.9% contract increase. BMA leaders say they will continue talks throughout this month to seek improvements. Practices are desperately worried about their finances, even before they face a below inflation increase in contract payments,…

Alarm over low uplift Practice Managers have warned that practices will close and patients will suffer if it’s correct that the general practice uplift for the 2024/25 is to be less than 2%. According to a report by the Pulse, the uplift to be offered is just 1.9%. The Institute of General Practice Management commented:…