A senior Welsh GP has warned that the UK Government’s plans to increase national insurance could make waiting times even longer in Wales.
Dr Rowena Christmas, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Wales, said practices may need to cut GP sessions to save costs. She added that strike action could follow if future contract negotiations fell apart.
Her concerns follow the Autumn budget announcement that employer contributions, including those from medical practices, would rise next April.
Unlike other NHS services, GP practices operate as private businesses and are funded by government contracts, meaning they are not exempt from the increases in national insurance.
GP Partners will have to pay national insurance at 15% on salaries above £5,000, instead of 13.8% on salaries above £9,100, from the next tax year.
Monmouthshire-based Dr Christmas said funding cuts, inflation and the rise of the cost of living have made it “difficult for GPs to keep going.”
For her practice, Dr Christmas said the new tax rate would amount to an extra £15,000 a year.
She added that GPs have reached out, calling the increase the “final straw”, with many saying they cannot bear this additional financial cost.
On the budget, the UK Government has said that a difficult set of decisions had to be made.
Dr. Christmas said that in the past six months alone, Wales has lost the equivalent of 51 full-time GPs, which represents nearly 3% of the total GP workforce.
Earlier this month, the General Practitioner Committee unanimously rejected the Welsh Government’s 2024/2025 General Medical Services contract offer.
Surgeries had hoped that these negotiations would secure more funding to offset the rise in taxes.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said investing in high-quality primary care services is a priority for them.
“Our offer to BMA Cymru Wales meets the pay review body recommendation and builds on increasing investment over several years.”
“We are keen to see staff working in general practice get their pay uplift as soon as possible, coupled with changes to the service that will improve patient care.”
GPs in Wales are holding a referendum on the contract, with voting open until mid-December.