GP practices in economically disadvantaged areas are set to receive a higher share of Government funding under a significant NHS reform initiative. A review to address the issue of “inverse care” will be launched by ministers to tackle the disparity in healthcare services experienced by regions with the greatest health needs. These areas typically face challenges such as fewer GPs, underperforming hospitals, and extended NHS waiting times.
The current funding model for GPs tends to favor wealthier areas with higher proportions of elderly residents. Care minister Stephen Kinnock is expected to introduce plans aimed at redirecting more funding to underserved communities and neglected coastal regions. This announcement will be made during the Royal College of GPs’ annual primary care conference in Newport.
Kinnock emphasized the need for a more equitable allocation of GP funding that prioritizes addressing health disparities and ensuring no community is left behind. The existing funding structure results in practices in working-class areas receiving approximately 10% less funding per patient compared to practices in affluent regions. Data from the Royal College of GPs reveals that GPs in economically challenged areas have significantly larger patient loads than those in more prosperous areas.
NHS England’s director for primary care, Dr. Amanda Doyle, stressed the importance of allocating resources fairly to GP practices serving vulnerable communities where health issues are prevalent. An overhaul of the GP funding system, which has not been revised in two decades, is seen as a crucial step in improving access to essential healthcare services for those in need.
The distribution of funding will be reviewed to ensure a more accurate reflection of health needs across different regions. The current funding formula, known as the Carr-Hill formula, relies on outdated data and workload estimates to determine funding allocation for GP practices nationwide. This review has been welcomed by various health and social care organizations as a significant move towards reducing health inequalities and promoting fairer access to healthcare services.
Regions with severe GP shortages, such as Thurrock in Essex, have patient-to-GP ratios exceeding 3,000 patients per GP. Other areas facing similar challenges include Leicester, Blackburn with Darwen, Luton, Milton Keynes, and Portsmouth, where GPs are stretched thin due to high patient demand. The proposed changes aim to address these disparities and ensure that every community receives adequate access to quality healthcare services.