BMA: GPs need greater funding to deliver improved care

The British Medical Association (BMA) has called on the government to support the GP sector with adequate funding in order to accomplish the goals of its newly-announced reforms.

Earlier this week, the Department of Health confirmed that 7.5 million people in England are to be offered seven-day opening hours and 08:00 to 20:00 appointment slots, while new personalised care models will be extended to vulnerable older patients.

The BMA has applauded the intent of these proposals, but questioned whether practices will have the necessary resources to provide extended opening hours in the long term.

More GPs, nurses and other health and social care services will be needed to provide expanded services in a sustainable way and achieve the government's goal of moving care out of hospitals and into community settings.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the BMA's General Practice Committee, said: "These changes will need to be properly supported. The government must take further action so that community, social and urgent care work in tandem to deliver truly holistic care to patients."

This comes after a recent BMA GP survey showed almost all respondents were struggling with heavy or unmanageable workloads, a trend that will accelerate under the new plans unless more resources are made available.