In February a “new package of measures” will be announced to address growing pressures on GPs, Jeremy Hunt, secretary of state for health, has announced.
“I am determined that we will address growing pressures on GPs and do even more to support the profession – so in February, we’ll be announcing a new package of measures consulting with the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) and the GPC on this,” he added.
This will include “further investment for the profession, building on the £1 billion already committed to improving GP facilities and technology,” the Department of Health (DH) revealed.
National workforce incentives to help keep GPs in the profession and to “address areas with specific workforce shortages” will also be announced.
The statement read: “In February the Health Secretary will give further detail of the support and investment in general practice to maintain the profession as the jewel in the crown of our NHS – working with NHS England, HEE, the RCGP and the GPC, including announcing further steps to increase the GP workforce, including incentives to help keep GPs in the profession and address areas with specific workforce shortages.”
Hunt pledged that, additionally to these measures, the DH will continue to reduce the burden of bureaucracy in general practice, and the Care Quality Commission will be looking at what more they can do to “streamline their inspections”.
