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BMA calls on new Government to restore investment in general practice

The BMA has called on the Tories to ‘restore investment’ in general practice as one of six top priorities for the new Government.

The Government ‘must’ place significant investment in both the general practice workforce and facilities in order to meet rising patient need, the body said, highlighting demands from older patients and those living with multiple conditions.

General practice is heavily targeted in the BMA’s list, which also included calls to address the shortfall of funding in the health system as a whole, removing market competition in healthcare and improving doctors’ working conditions.

In setting out the targets, the BMA stated: ‘The government must work more effectively with the profession to attract motivated doctors to work in general practice and must invest in upgrading practice premises.

‘General practice is the bedrock of many NHS services and the gatekeeper to the rest.’

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The move comes on the back of the BMA’s ‘No More Games’ campaign launched earlier this year in a bid to fight ‘political point-scoring’ exercises such as the GP dementia case finding scheme and 48-hour GP appointment target.

The news comes as Prime Minister David Cameron reappointed Jeremy Hunt as health secretary on Monday this week after the Conservatives won an all-out majority in the general election.

Yesterday, Mr Hunt said he willl be on a ‘mission’ to improve GP services in the next Parliament.

 

The BMA’s six priorities for the new Government

  1. Addressing the funding shortfall for health
  2. Removing market competition in healthcare
  3. Increasing, retaining and valuing doctors
  4. Maintaining safeguards for patients and doctors
  5. Restoring investment in general practice
  6. Prioritising health and well-being and strengthening ill-health prevention

Source: BMA