The rise in employers’ national insurance announced at the Budget could put 25,000 GP appointments at risk around Maidenhead thanks to the increased costs to practices Liberal Democrat analysis has revealed. It comes as Joshua Reynolds MP calls on the government to “urgently rethink” and scrap the hike.
Joshua Reynolds MP has joined GP groups in calling on the government to exempt GPs and other health and care providers from the rise, but so far ministers have refused to do so. The Liberal Democrats are seeking to use amendments to upcoming legislation on the Budget to exempt GPs from the National Insurance tax rise.
The Institute of General Practice Management has estimated that the rise will mean the average GP surgery’s tax bill will go up by around £20,000 a year. This could end up costing GPs in the NHS Frimley area, which includes Maidenhead £1,360,000 across the 68 practices in the area.
This is the equivalent cost of providing 25,000 GP appointments, at £56 per appointment. It means it could cost the average GP surgery in the Maidenhead area the equivalent of 357 appointments a year.
Joshua Reynolds, the Liberal Democrat MP for Maidenhead said
“GPs in our area are set to be hammered by higher taxes at a time when they have already been run into the ground by the previous Conservative government.
“I have heard from hardworking GPs in our area who have said that all this GP penalty will achieve is to make it harder for people in Maidenhead to get an appointment when thousands are already struggling to do so.
“After the disappointment of Reform Road, the last thing Maidenhead residents need is more bad news about their ability to access a GP appointment. We need to work with the NHS to open more GP surgeries and reduce waiting times, not punish them for serving the community.
“I will be joining my Liberal Democrat colleagues in Westminster in fighting for our local GP services. The Chancellor must urgently rethink these proposals and exempt GPs from this misguided tax hike. We cannot rescue local health services whilst burdening them with even more costs.”