Opus Business Systems News

Funding squeeze forces practices to axe salaried GPs and staff

Funding squeeze forces practices to axe staff, but Opus can help

According to an article on Pulse website, GP practices across the country are being forced by unsustainable cost pressures to make reception staff, nurses and even salaried GPs redundant.

As many as one practice in five will lay off staff this year, with around a third of those having to shed a salaried GP post, a wide-ranging Pulse survey on workforce issues reveals.

The findings expose the toll taken on practices by financial pressures – as GPs prepare for a sixth pay squeeze in seven years – and the severity of the actions they are having to take.

The body representing medical accountants warned PMS practices were being hit particularly hard, with some forced to shed salaried GP posts to cover shortfalls in funding following contract reviews.

One GP in seven of 250 responding to the survey said they planned to make reception or administrative staff redundant, while others said they would be losing practice nurses, practice managers, specialist business managers and healthcare assistants. Of the two-thirds of GPs who said their practice employed salaried GPs, one in 10 said they would have to make at least one position redundant.

The GPC said the findings showed the extent of the strain being placed on practices, and called for more investment in primary care to protect services.

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For the full article from PULSE, click here.