The Government has listened on GP infrastructure, now we need long-term investment, says College Chair

The RCGP responds to the Government’s announcement of £102 million of investment to modernise over 1,000 GP surgeries, Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of GPs said:

“Our last survey of members found that two in five GPs considered their premises unfit for purpose. This not only makes for a poor experience for both patients and practice staff, but it restricts the care and services a practice can provide. Nearly 90% of respondents to our survey said their practice didn’t have enough consulting rooms, and three quarters didn’t have enough space to take on additional GP trainees.

“Today’s announcement is an encouraging interim measure that shows the Government is listening and acknowledges that inadequate GP infrastructure needs to be addressed. We now need to see this followed up by further long-term investment in the Comprehensive Spending Review later this year.

“If we are going to build a general practice that’s fit for the future, the College wants to see £2billion invested in general practice infrastructure, so that GPs have the facilities, equipment and technology to deliver the safe and timely care patients need. This, alongside continued efforts to address the intense workforce and workload pressures GPs and our teams are working under, can help deliver the government’s commitment to shift more care into the community and ensure the family doctor is here to stay for years to come.”

Further information

RCGP press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 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.