BMA warns of ‘devastating’ impact of MPIG funding loss

The British Medical Association (BMA) has issued a warning that the government's decision to end funding to GP practices through the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee (MPIG) could have severe consequences.

GPs at the Local Medical Committees conference in York have supported a motion saying that the loss of this vital funding could seriously jeopardise the viability of many practices, damaging the delivery of services to patients.

Earlier this week, the BMA wrote to NHS England calling for promises of support for affected practices to be seen through and a national plan for helping practices at the risk of closure be put in place.

The BMA has expressed specific concerns that the withdrawal of MPIG will have a particularly harsh impact on rural and inner city practices.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the BMA's GP Committee, said: "The government has seriously misjudged the potential impact of its funding changes and, despite the assurances from NHS England that those most adversely affected would be supported, we have seen little evidence of this."

This comes after the association launched a campaign earlier this month, Your GP Cares, calling for the government to increase the amount of funding available to general practice.