Patients could find it harder to see their GP due to rising national insurance – 5 million a month can no longer do so, health leaders warn.
Doctors say they will be forced to cut staff if they are not exempt from tax collection, which is expected to cost practices around £40,000.
New analysis by the House of Commons Library reveals that a quarter of people who contacted their GP in the last month failed to get through on the day they called.
The study, based on a survey from the Office for National Statistics, showed that 22.4 million people tried to contact their GP in the previous 28 days.
Of those, 5.2 million were unable to contact their GP on the day they called, meaning almost one in four people who wanted to contact their GP were unable to.
Dentists, pharmacists, social care providers and charities have also expressed fears that Rachel Reeves’ rise from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent could force them to close.
The study, based on a survey by the Office for National Statistics, showed that 22.4 million people tried to contact their GP in the previous 28 days (file photo)
A further 1.2 million people failed to contact their GP throughout the month, according to a library study commissioned by the Liberal Democrats.
The party joins GPs in demanding that GPs be exempt from employers’ social security rise, warning it is a “tax on community care”.
Dentists, pharmacists, social care providers and charities have also expressed fears that Rachel Reeves’ rise from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent could force them to close.
Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat health and social care spokesperson, said: “Millions of people across the country are already struggling to get a doctor’s appointment, now the government’s tax rises risk making the situation even worse. GP crisis”.
‘This is a community care tax which will hit GPs, dentists and care homes, making it even harder for them to employ enough staff and provide the care local people desperately need.
“Some risk even being forced to close completely, leaving local patients to pay the price.”
Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, which campaigns for elderly patients, said he is “extremely concerned” that the NI increase could make it harder to get an appointment.
He added: “If the government cannot find the money to reimburse or exempt doctors from these tax increases, it could have very serious consequences for patients.”
New analysis by the House of Commons Library reveals that a quarter of people who contacted their GP in the last month failed to get through on the day they called (file photo)
The Lib Dems are joining GPs in demanding that GPs be exempt from employers’ social security rise, warning it is a “community care tax”.
“GP practices will be hit with large bills and may have to cut staff, making an already bad situation even worse.”
Dr David Wrigley, vice-chairman of the British Medical Association’s GP Committee, said: “The number of patients struggling to see their GP is disappointing and not surprising given a significant shortage of GPs in front line.”
‘More than ten years of cuts to public services have left general practice on its knees.
‘The Chancellor’s plan to increase employers’ National Insurance will place a huge additional burden on businesses already operating on the tightest of margins and looking to remain financially viable.
“If the government decides to go ahead and not cover this increased cost for practices as previous governments have done, this will lead to difficult decisions for practices which will force us to cut the services we provide.”
Dr Richard West, whose practice cares for 16,000 patients in rural Suffolk, said: ‘Our accountants have estimated that the practice will incur additional costs of £140,000 from next April.
‘This includes costs associated with increasing employers’ NICs and the living wage. This equates to several senior clinical staff.’
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, president of the Royal College of GPs, said on Friday that many GP practices were “already struggling to keep their doors open and make ends meet”.
He added: “For some, this additional financial burden will be the last straw, forcing them to make difficult decisions about layoffs or even closing their practice, and ultimately it will be our patients who will bear the brunt.”
The Department of Health and Social Care and the Treasury have been contacted for comment.