How the GP Forward View has split opinion
'NHS England have committed to investment which will reverse the unacceptable decline in general practice funding. This is a vital step as the proportion of resource in general practice will reach 11% of the NHS budget and beyond. We see this as a floor, not a ceiling, and believe that NHS England must ensure that resources follow where care is being provided going forward.
'It is vital that GPs and staff see tangible delivery against these commitments, so that the words are translated into action. GP practices must receive the immediate and urgent support needed, as well as the infrastructure for a sustainable future, which will attract younger doctors to become GPs, and enable existing GPs to remain working.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, GPC chair
'Today’s announcement is a huge and important step in the right direction, and if implemented correctly, our profession, the wider NHS, and most importantly, our patients will reap the benefits.
'Crucially, it will send a loud and clear message to those about to embark on a career in general practice, and medical students considering it, that their future as a GP will be attractive and secure.'
Dr Maureen Baker, RCGP chair
'We know that GPs are under increasing pressure with limited resources, increasing patient demand and a rapidly evolving health and care landscape and so, I am pleased this report sets out the increased support and further investment that they need to do their jobs well and to make sure their patients get the care they deserve.
'We look forward to playing our part in delivering the Forward View as we continue our plans to build on the regulatory model we introduced for general practices over eighteen months ago.'
Professor Steve Field, CQC chief inspector of general practice
'Today’s announcement falls far short of what is needed to address the challenges facing general practice in the Capital and beyond. GPs are in a state of emergency. Patients risk losing their GPs unless pressures on general practice are dramatically eased.
'General practice is at breaking point. That’s not safe for patients or staff.'
Dr Michelle Drage, chief executive Londonwide LMCs
'Whilst it’s good news that the severity of the parlous state of general practice has belatedly been recognised and that all additional investment and many of the specific measures heralded in the document are to be welcomed, the increased funding announced here is still far too little, too late to resolve the catastrophic workload and workforce crisis facing the profession.'
Dr Robert Morley, GPC contracts and regulation subcommittee chair
Clare Gerada 300x300
I’ve always said general practice goes in a twenty year cycle, and those twenty years are grim until something happens. I think this is the something, as long as the CCGs don’t steal it.
Professor Clare Gerada, former chair, RCGP
chris hewitt 2 online
I believe that [this] could accelerate the demise of general practice as we know it. General practice needs a clear vision - we need a rescue package that clearly outlines pounds per patient and per patient contact for the core work of GPs.
Dr Chris Hewitt, Leicestershire LMC chief executive
Peter Swinyard 300x300
As someone who is a fully paid up cynic about everything government tries to do to us, and the disasters that have met general practice in the last two or three years, this at least could be a turning point. We might look back and say ‘that was the first bit that started rebuilding general practice’. I hope I’m right.
Dr Peter Swinyard, chair, Family Doctor Association
Stephanie De Giorgio 300x300
I’m disappointed that the RCGP is in favour of the package – they were involved in helping create it and some of the work here is good but overall, it is not a rescue plan. It’s like putting a teeny round plaster on an exsanguinating patient.
Dr Stephanie DeGiorgio, co-founder of Resilient GP
Dr Nav Chana Paul Stuart
'Primary care organised around general practice has a pivotal role to play but it must be transformed to face challenges. We encourage this transformation to recognise the wider primary care workforce to support general practice to meet the health and social care needs of its population.'
Dr Nav Chana, chair of the National Association of Primary Care
Zoe Norris 300x300
'To access the funding that has been announced, practices will have to jump through a lot of hoops and sign up to providing 7 day care. We are not being trusted to be given core funding'
Dr Zoe Norris, media lead, GP Survival
Readers' comments (23)
Anonymous | GP Partner21 Apr 2016 2:16am
What a shower this lot are. Unsurprising applause from the Cardigans in chief. Have they read Animal Farm?
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Anonymous | GP Partner21 Apr 2016 6:27am
I despise the lot of them.
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Anonymous | GP Partner21 Apr 2016 7:17am
Now we"ve given some sound bites and thrown some cramps to the workers back to the trough boys and girls we need to fill up.After all some animals are created more equal than others,Oink Oink.
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Mayur Lakhani | GP Partner21 Apr 2016 8:36am
Disappointed to see the knee jerk reactions.
I am more generous. I have now looked at this in detail. I believe it is significant progress. It is time for GPs to embrace this new funding and make the most of it. As Pulse has said there is tribalism in general practice.
In my view disunity is a major barrier to progress. At the end of the day, it is about choices. Complaining and cynicism are not a strategy!
Please keep an open mind.
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Anonymous | GP Partner21 Apr 2016 9:02am
The contract is key.
This is not the contract. It's not even in DES territory.
It's only aspiration.
It's meaningless without a wholesale rewrite of the GMS contract. That was why 2004 was important, and why this document will be forgotten by September this year.
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Mary Hawking | GP Partner21 Apr 2016 9:17am
"The devil lies in the detail"
On Twitter,
DrDean @DeanEggitt 1h1 hour ago
What!???? How can you call the Better Care Fund investment in General Practice? Those funds may never reach a single practice
Absolute bollo
If he's right, I'd be inclined to agree with his assesment.
*Is* he correct? and if so, what other funding streams have been included which does not and will not come to general practice?
Then there is distribution: which practices, on what criteris, will received any of the money - and will it be recurrent?
Don't get me wrong: any real increase in funding for general practice has to be welcome - especially if associated with reduction in unilaterally imposed burocracy - especially if recurrent and guaranteed.(how often have practices risen to the challenge of new services only to have the funding withdrawn in a couple of years?)
I live in hope - but "the proof of the pudding lies in the eating: general practice has been promised jam tomorrow too often to believe in jam until it actually arrives..
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Anonymous | Practice Manager21 Apr 2016 9:45am
"We welcome...."
Let's see the money first. Much of this will be re-promising of existing cash - the PCTF, the mental health funding uplift, the existing cash for pharmacists in Primary Care. Don't be fooled folks - you have won nothing yet.
No crown indemnity, no contract rewrite, no Carr-hill replacement. I am yet to be convinced.
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Anonymous | GP Partner21 Apr 2016 10:37am
No welcoming until the contract and money are there to sign.
It is all meaningless until that appears.
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Geepjul | GP Partner21 Apr 2016 10:45am
The Better Care Fund is about transferring money from the NHS to social care. Given that many CCGs now have delegated commissioning of general practice, the increase in the BCF may involve money being taken out of general practice as part of this transfer.
Yes, it might improve community services and make our life simpler but it is dubious that this could be deemed extra investment in general practice.
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Anonymous | NHS Manager21 Apr 2016 10:49am
Anonymous | GP Partner21 Apr 2016 6:27am
Ditto! Well said
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