The Doctors\u2019 Association UK (DAUK) has urged new Health Secretary Victoria Atkins to properly support GPs after the launch of the Government\u2019s Pharmacy First service highlighted significant disparities in funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the new service, pharmacists will be paid \u00a31,000 a month, plus \u00a315 per consultation for providing 30 consultations a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Steve Taylor, a GP based in Manchester and DAUK spokesperson, said this equated to \u00a348 per consultation – more than double the \u00a323 per consultation that GPs currently receive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said: \u201cA consultation at \u00a348 is a reasonable fee but NHS GPs are receiving less than half that and are struggling to fund the staff they need and the quality of care patients want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you look at the funding formulas for GPs, it\u2019s increased from \u00a3153 per head in 2015 to \u00a3163 now with no cap on consultations. It\u2019s effectively a cut in real terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe amount of extra work that practices are doing has gone up 18 per cent in that time, so they\u2019re doing more work and doing it for less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe average patient now receives seven consultations a year, most of which will be much more complex than those being now shared with pharmacists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd it works out at less than half the rate for pharmacists – and frankly it\u2019s not enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s making it harder for general practices to be financially viable, which means that GPs can\u2019t afford to employ and recruit members of staff, which effectively reduces capacity, and is even causing some GPs to leave the profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe urge the new Health and Social Care Secretary to urgently respond to the needs of practices and support GPs so they can continue to provide care for patients.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through the new service, pharmacists will be able to provide advice to patients and issue medicines for seven common conditions in sinusitis; sore throat; earache; infected insect bite; impetigo; shingles and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Women will also be able to get the contraceptive pill from pharmacies without the need for a GP appointment, through the <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Taylor welcomed the expansion of simple consultations to pharmacies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re a patient and you can get help and advice with these issues at the local pharmacy, that\u2019s brilliant,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGPs are so underfunded we\u2019re often struggling to provide those, so any extra help is to be welcomed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut what is not welcome is the continued lack of resources allocated to GP practices and it has to change.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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