Our campaign to improve patient care by increasing funding for general practice from 8.4% to 11% of the UK NHS budget by 2017
www.putpatientsfirst.rcgp.org.uk
General practice is the cornerstone of the NHS – dealing with 90% of patient contacts
However, despite this, general practice receives just 8.4% of the NHS budget across the UK
Rest of the NHS91.6%
General Practice
8.4%
In part this reflects the value for money GPs provide to the NHS. Worryingly, however, 81% of GPs now say general practice does not have sufficient resources to deliver high quality care
Source: ComRes UK-wide RCGP Poll, Aug 2013
As our population gets older, the skills of GPs are needed more than ever. General practice has a vital role to play in transforming the NHS into a service focused on preventing ill health, not just treating it
Source: RCGP Compendium of Evidence, 2013
But at a time when patients need GPs more than ever, general practice is receiving a smaller share of NHS resources
Source: RCGP analysis
Funding for patient care has dropped in general practice by 8% in real terms since 2005/06 – at a time when the rest of the NHS budget has grown by 18%
Source: RCGP analysis
What impact is all of this having on patients?
Almost half of GPs say their practices have had to cut back on services for patients and 39% have cut back on practice staff
Source: ComRes UK-wide RCGP Poll, Aug 2013
72% of GPs say they expect patient waiting times to increase in the next two years
Source: ComRes UK-wide RCGP Poll, Aug 2013
And 82% of GPs say it will become more difficult to provide continuity of care to vulnerable older people in the next two years
Source: ComRes UK-wide RCGP Poll, Aug 2013
We believe patients deserve better than this.
That’s why we’re campaigning to persuade the governments of the UK to increase funding for patient care in general practice to 11% of the NHS budget by 2017.
This will deliver real benefits to patients and the NHS as a whole
Longer consultations, especially for those
with long term conditions
Better continuity of care, with improved
opportunities for patients to see a GP
who knows them
Improved care co-ordination and
planning for the frail elderly and those with
complex needs
More care delivered closer to home and expanded outreach
services to those with the greatest healthcare
needs
Consistent high quality patient experience in general practice and a reduction in pressure
on the whole NHS
More time for GPs to spend delivering care to those who need it
most
Shorter waiting times for appointments and more flexible opening
hours
• Back the campaign and sign up for updates• Write to your local politician to highlight your concerns about
shrinking resources in general practice• Send us your stories from the front line (email
[email protected]) • Support us on Twitter (#putpatientsfirst @rcgp) and Facebook• Read our campaign briefing• If you work in general practice, host a visit from your local
politician (email your practice post code to [email protected])
Thank you for your support! www.putpatientsfirst.rcgp.org.uk
Help us fight for an increase in resources for patient care in general practice:
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