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Dr Rowena Christmas, chairwoman of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Wales, has expressed concern about the impact of National Insurance increases on GP waiting times in Wales. She described the changes announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as an “absolute crisis” and a “crushing disappointment.” While the UK government claimed to have provided funding to support businesses with the NI increases, the Welsh government argued that the funding was insufficient to meet Wales’ actual needs, resulting in a significant shortfall.
Unlike other NHS services, GP practices operate as private businesses and are funded by government contracts, making them susceptible to the NI increases that came into effect last month. GP partners are now required to pay NI at 15% on salaries above £5,000, compared to the previous rate of 13.8% on salaries above £9,100. Dr Christmas highlighted the challenges faced by GPs due to funding cuts, inflation, and the rising cost of living, making it increasingly difficult for practices to sustain themselves.
In response to the situation, the BMA’s Welsh GP committee recently voted to accept an updated pay offer, including a one-off £23m payment aimed at stabilizing practices. While this was seen as a welcome relief, Dr Christmas emphasized that it would not address the long-term challenges faced by GP practices. She called for GP practices to be exempt from the NI rise to avoid further financial strain, as it could lead to redundancies and service reductions in practices like the one on Anglesey where Dr. Meleri Evans works.
The Welsh government expressed concerns about the additional costs facing devolved public sector employers in Wales due to the NI increases. It emphasized the need for full funding from Westminster to cover these costs and stated that it was pressing the Treasury on the issue. The British Medical Association’s Welsh GP committee is currently in negotiations with the Welsh government to revise the General Medical Services contract for 2024-25 in response to the Budget and the growing worries within the GP profession
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