Context
GPs in the Weald of Kent, including Woodchurch and Charing, struggle with rising staff costs. The National Insurance increase from last year's Budget has put additional pressure on GP surgeries.
Question
How much do GPs surgeries across the Weald of Kent, including in Woodchurch and Charing, struggle with rising staff costs? Given the national insurance increases in last year’s Budget put huge pressure on them, what discussions have you or your colleagues from the Department of Health and Social Care had with Treasury colleagues about protecting GP partnerships from further NI burdens in the upcoming Budget?
Answer from The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)
Thanks to the decisions taken by the Chancellor at the Budget, we are investing an extra £1.1 billion in general practice—the biggest increase in a decade. That funding has allowed us to recruit an extra 2,000 GPs, agree a contract for the first time in four years, and introduce online access. Patient satisfaction in general practice has risen from 67% last year to 75% this year, and the proportion of patients reporting difficulty contacting their practice has fallen from 18.7% in July 2024 to 10.6% in May 2025.
Not addressed: Discussions with Treasury colleagues about protecting GP partnerships from further NI burdens
How: Criticising Us—It Is A Bit Like The Arsonists Heckling The Firefighters
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