17,500 local GP appointments at risk

The equivalent of 17,500 GP appointments in the Herts Valleys area are at risk due to the increased cost to GP practices from the government’s Budget, according to Liberal Democrat analysis. 

The rise in employers’ national insurance contributions announced at the Budget will put extra pressure on GP practice budgets meaning they may have to suppress wages, freeze recruitment or make staff redundant. 

The Herts Valleys area covers St Albans, Harpenden, Dacorum, Watford, Three Rivers and Hertsmere.

Victoria Collins, MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, is calling for the government to “urgently rethink” the measure. She is urging the government to scrap the hike altogether, or at the very least exclude GPs, care providers, hospices and medical charities who provide front-line health care. 

Victoria Collins, MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, said:

“Local people continue to be concerned about access to healthcare from getting a GP appointment, seeing an NHS dentist or getting the care they need. I’ve already been contacted by numerous local GP surgeries who will be forced to lay off employees because of this cost increase.

“We must give local health providers the support they need and deserve to serve our local communities. I know that improving access to health and care services is a major priority for my constituents and I’ll keep fighting for this, including by continuing to call on the Chancellor to exempt GPs from increased national insurance contributions.”

The Institute of General Practice Management has also estimated that the rise will mean the average GP surgery’s tax bill will go up by £20,000 a year. This could end up costing GPs in the Herts Valleys £980,000 for all 49 practices in the area.

This is the equivalent cost of providing 17,500 GP appointments, at £56 per appointment, which means it could cost the average GP surgery in the Herts Valleys the equivalent of 357 appointments a year.

Victoria called for the tax hike to be scrapped in Parliament during the Budget debate, highlighting how damaging this would be for small businesses, but especially health and care providers in her constituency, but ministers have so far refused to do so. 

The Liberal Democrats are seeking to use amendments to upcoming legislation on the Budget to exempt GPs from the National Insurance tax rise.