General practice should be at the heart of every community – keeping patients safe, and providing strong foundations for the rest of the NHS. But decades of neglect has broken the entire system. We don’t have enough family doctors to treat our patients. GPs are leaving the profession in droves, and practices are closing all over the UK. Patients should be able to see us when they need to.
Our colleagues across the NHS should be able to work closely with us to provide the right care, at the right time. A strong general practice keeps people healthy and gives them the care they need in their community. And it takes the pressure off hospitals and specialist services, saving money in the longer term.
Reform takes time, but these problems are immediate and real.
That’s why we need to come together and Rebuild General Practice. It is the only way we can keep our patients safe, and protect the NHS.
We are a group of GPs calling for a proper, long-term plan to Rebuild General Practice.
We are asking the Government, patients and our colleagues across the NHS to join us in building a long-term patient centred vision for general practice.
We are calling for:
A plan to retain the GP workforce;
Fair funding as part of the wider NHS;
Greater freedom and autonomy to do our jobs.