Local GP appointments at risk because of National Insurance hike

The rise in employers’ national insurance announced at the Budget could put 61,786 GP appointments at risk in South West London due to increased costs to practices Liberal Democrat analysis has revealed. It comes as Sutton and Cheam MP Luke Taylor calls on the government to scrap the hike.

Luke Taylor MP has called on the government to exempt GPs and other health and care providers from the rise, but so far ministers have refused to do so. The Liberal Democrats are seeking to use amendments to upcoming legislation on the Budget to exempt GPs from the National Insurance tax rise.

The Institute of General Practice Management has estimated that the rise will mean the average GP surgery’s tax bill will go up by around £20,000 a year. This could end up costing GPs in South West London £3,460,000 for all 173 practices in the area.

This is the equivalent cost of providing 61,786 GP appointments. It means it could cost the average GP surgery in South West London the same amount as 357 appointments a year would.

Luke Taylor MP said:

“GPs in our area are set to be hammered by higher taxes when they have already been run into the ground by the previous Conservative government.

“I have heard from hardworking GPs in our area who have said that all this GP penalty will achieve is to make it harder to do their important job providing primary care in Sutton and Cheam.

“This is utterly the wrong move in the middle of a crisis in our healthcare system. The Lib Dems will keep fighting - including with amendments to the budget legislation.

“If The Chancellor will not listen and urgently scrap the NI tax hike altogether, she should at least exempt GPs and other health and care providers from this misguided policy.”