GP Practice funding squeeze

A survey of GP practices shows that they are being forced by cost pressures to make reception staff, nurses and even salaried GPs redundant.

One GP in seven of 250 responding to the survey said they planned to make reception or administrative staff redundant, while others said they would be losing practice nurses, practice managers, specialist business managers and healthcare assistants. Of the two-thirds of GPs who said their practice employed salaried GPs, one in 10 said they would have to make at least one position redundant.

The findings expose severity of the actions required by continuing financial pressures as GPs prepare for a sixth pay squeeze in seven years.

Some practices have replaced nurses with healthcare assistants, reduced staff through natural wastage as people leave or retire, and have partners doing admin work.

PMS practices are being hit particularly hard, with some forced to shed salaried GP posts to cover shortfalls in funding following contract reviews.

The GPC said the findings showed the extent of the strain being placed on practices, and called for more investment in primary care to protect services.