The pledge to increase funding for general practice in England to 'over 10 per cent' of the NHS budget highlights the value general practice contributes to creating efficient and sustainable healthcare systems.
The news has been warmly welcomed by Dr Frank Jones, president of The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
“It’s fantastic to see the value of GPs being recognised and the contribution they make. It’s a message that is also important in Australia,” Dr Jones said.
“So often the focus of new spending is on hospitals, which are very important, but it is often at the expense of general practice and primary healthcare services. GPs provide the nation with more than 134 million consultations a year, and these services must be valued and supported.
“Investing in general practice patient services has enormous benefits for a country’s health, and is beneficial for patients, health providers and funders.
“The NHS has committed to a 14 per cent increase in funding in real terms, this is the sort of commitment we also need in Australia,” Dr Jones said.