BMA campaign calls for new investments in general practice

The British Medical Association (BMA) has launched a campaign calling for the government to heed industry calls for greater investment in general practice.

Entitled Your GP Cares, the initiative aims to raise awareness of the fact that GPs across the country are facing a number of challenges at present, including rising workloads, an increased number of patients with complex conditions and heightened demand for appointments.

Since these pressures are having an impact on GP morale, affecting the recruitment and retention of doctors in general practice, the BMA is demanding that a long-term, sustainable plan of funding increases is devised.

This would allow doctors to give patients more time, increase staff numbers and make enhancements to practice premises, improving the overall standard of care.

BMA GP committee chair Chaand Nagpaul said: "Our campaign aims to show the true picture in general practice and calls for the investment needed in GPs, practice staff and premises so we can deliver the care our patients deserve."

The Royal College of GPs, which has been calling for increased funding for general practice for some time, has also voiced its support for the campaign.