Dr Brian Fisher, vice chair, Health Creation Alliance says: “Health Creation Alliance has always supported grass-roots general practice as the centre of a holistic cross-sector approach to health, both social and bio-medical. We can now see how important it is – and how much needs to be done to revitalise it.
“GP Online reports that research by Dr Helene Irvine from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde shows that slipping targets for NHS finance and performance across the UK are directly linked to cuts in GP services. Systematic underinvestment in general practice and district nursing, coupled with deep cuts to social care, are the main factors driving financial meltdown in the NHS. She also says: By investing substantially in everyone but the GP and their key ally the district nurse, we have created a very expensive, fragmented service that is not efficient and results in overdiagnosis.
“The findings further strengthen the case for restoring to general practice the 11% share of NHS funding it received a decade ago. General practice currently receives around 8% of the health service budget, a figure that could rise to 10% by 2020 under plans set out in NHS England’s GP Forward View.
“Real-terms investment in general practice has fallen by £250m since the Coalition government began in 2010. GP partners’ income has dropped by nearly 25% in 7 years.
“The Health Creation Alliance welcomes the GP Forward View. We are, however, concerned that the promised funding may not fully materialise and that it does not address critical problems in practices right now.”
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact Sophie Lap at sophie.lap@salixandco.com or on 07725 555 030
Health Creation Alliance is a movement of people and organisations who are committed to building a sustainable, community-based health service. They are an entirely solutions focused organisation, unique in its approach bringing together more than 10,000 passionate individuals and organisations across primary care who believe innovation, connections and integration are key to the sustainability of a health service that remains free to all at the point of need. Health Creation Alliance promote greater collaboration between organisations within the NHS and between the NHS, communities, local authorities, innovative enterprises and other local enablers of prevention and health creation.
