4 August 2019
RCGP Welcomes Pledge to Overhaul GPs' Pension Arrangements
Responding to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's pledge to overhaul GPs' pensions arrangements today, Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said:
"General practice is currently facing intense workforce pressures and current pensions arrangements are exacerbating these, so it is good to see the Government taking this issue seriously.
"If implemented correctly, the changes announced today are welcome - but many experienced GPs are already, and quite understandably, reducing the number of patIent-facing sessions they work and are unable to take on additional teaching duties because of how this will adversely affect their pensions and taxation situation, so it is vital that changes are applied swiftly.
"At a time when GPs and our teams are really struggling with escalating workload, and with inadequate numbers of staff to safely undertake it – and our patients are waiting longer for an appointment as a result – we need to be doing everything we can to keep hard working, experienced GPs in the profession, and hopefully today's announcement is a step towards that."
Further Information
RCGP Press office: 020 3188 7633/7574/7575
Out of hours: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk
Notes
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 52,000 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.