£580m boost to general practice isn’t enough, say GP leaders

Doctors’ leaders have questioned the impact of a 3.9% real terms rise in investment in general practice in England over the past year, saying not all the money is reaching frontline care and the amount is insufficient to deal with existing problems.

NHS England said that it was ahead of its own target to invest £12bn (€13bn; $17bn) a year by 2020-21 in general practice—indicated by figures published by NHS Digital on 20 September1 that showed £10.8bn was invested in general practice in 2017-18—a real terms increase of 3.9% on the previous 12 months.

NHS Digital said, however, that the …