21 July 2020
General Practice Must Be Central to NHS Spending Plans During Pandemic Recovery
In response to the prime minister’s pledge of an additional £3 billion of funding to help the NHS prepare for a potential second wave of COVID-19, Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “Today’s announcement is a welcome step in the right direction to help support general practice and all other sectors of the NHS, as they inevitably manage a huge amount of additional pressure and challenges, as a result of COVID-19, particularly as we approach our busy winter period.
“GPs and our teams are working exceptionally hard to manage the physical and psychological consequences of the virus and facilitate communities’ recovery; tackling a difficult flu season this winter on top of this, will exacerbate pressure on an already stretched service.
“This is why in our recent report, General Practice in a Post-Covid World, we outlined the scale of the challenges general practice will be facing post-pandemic, and the need for a comprehensive plan with additional funding attached to help GPs and their teams successfully manage and mitigate the effects of the virus in their communities. While this funding will help and is certainly welcome, it is important that clarity is given as to where and how this money will be spent – and that general practice, as the bedrock of the NHS and the service that makes the vast majority of patient contacts, is central to these plans.”
Further Information
RCGP Press office: 020 3188 7494/7633/7574/7575
Out of hours: 020 3188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk
Notes
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 53,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.