National Insurance hike threatens 42,000 GP appointments in Devon

More than 42,000 GP appointments in Devon are at risk due to increased costs from the rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions, according to new analysis by the Liberal Democrats. 

The change, announced in the recent Budget, has prompted South Devon MP Caroline Voaden to call on the government to “urgently rethink” and scrap the hike.

Voaden has urged ministers to exempt GPs and other health care providers from the rise, but so far, the government has resisted these calls. 

The Liberal Democrats plan to propose amendments to upcoming legislation on the Budget to shield GP practices from the added tax burden.

According to the Institute of General Practice Management, the tax rise is estimated to increase the average GP surgery’s annual bill by around £20,000. 

For all 118 GP practices in Devon, this could amount to a total cost of £2.36 million, equivalent to the cost of providing 42,143 GP appointments at an estimated £56 per visit. 

It means it could cost the average GP surgery in Devon the equivalent of 357 appointments a year.

Above: Official portrait of Caroline Voaden. Image: Jessica Taylor/Creative Commons

Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon, Caroline Voaden, said: “Since the election, all I’ve heard from GPs in South Devon is that more funding is urgently needed to cover the ever-growing list of jobs they are expected to cover.

“The news coming out of the Budget will do the opposite, and now GPs are set to be hammered by higher taxes at a time when they’ve made it loud and clear that their finances are incredibly stretched.

“I fear for the knock-on effect this will have on people in South Devon already struggling to get an appointment. The Chancellor must urgently rethink these proposals and exempt GPs from this misguided tax hike. We cannot rescue local health services whilst burdening them with even more costs.”