Ep 242: NHS GPs won’t survive unless … with Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer BMA GPC chair
Nov 15, 2024
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Dr. Katie Bramall-Stainer, Chair of the BMA General Practice Committee, shares insights on the pressing challenges facing NHS GPs. She discusses the dire need for funding reform amidst rising costs and staffing shortages. Katie emphasizes the importance of building financial habits for medical professionals and the critical disparities in resources between general practices and large hospitals. The conversation also touches on the need for collective action and communication among GPs to secure sustainable services and improve patient care.
Dr. Katie Bramall-Stainer emphasizes the urgent need for a new NHS funding model to address the financial challenges faced by general practitioners.
The lack of sufficient funding for premises development hinders infrastructure improvements necessary for delivering community-based care effectively.
Collective action among GPs is crucial for negotiating better contractual terms and ensuring financial sustainability in their practices.
Deep dives
Dr. Katie Bramw-Stainer's Journey in Medical Politics
Dr. Katie Bramw-Stainer recounts her journey to becoming the chair of the BMA General Practice Committee. Her involvement began with student representation during her time at UCL, where she learned valuable skills in corporate governance and committee structure. Over the years, she transitioned from student leadership to attending local and national committees, eventually becoming a recognized voice in discussions surrounding the workforce challenges facing GPs. She emphasizes the importance of experience within the committee, highlighting how her insights into issues like parental leave reimbursement and workforce attrition have informed her leadership approach.
Concerns over NHS Funding and Contract Negotiations
Dr. Bramw-Stainer articulates significant concerns about current NHS funding models and calls for a new contract that effectively addresses financial challenges faced by general practitioners. She highlights the disparities in reimbursement rates and the urgent need for a formula that fairly allocates resources to practices, especially in light of increasing national insurance costs. The existing funding model, she argues, is not sustainable, noting that general practices cannot simply raise prices to cover their costs like other healthcare entities can. Without rapid governmental intervention and a commitment to properly fund general practice, the viability of many practices and their ability to provide care may be jeopardized.
Challenges in Primary Care Premises Development
The discussion shifts to the issue of premises development in primary care, with Dr. Bramw-Stainer emphasizing the lack of sufficient funding to address infrastructure needs. With only a meager 200 premises development reimbursements being announced in the UK, she argues that this is grossly inadequate compared to the thousands of practices in operation. She stresses that if the goal is to push care closer to communities, the resources and space are essential for that transformation to occur. Dr. Bramw-Stainer advocates for a comprehensive neighborhood model of care that integrates community services and addresses the pressing infrastructural deficits faced by many general practices.
Reforming Locally Enhanced Services
The podcast highlights the ongoing issues related to Locally Enhanced Services (LES), particularly the stark variations in payment rates across different Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). Dr. Bramw-Stainer points out that practices are facing fiscal challenges as funding for these services remains static despite rising employment costs. This has created a postcode lottery where some practices receive adequate compensation for important services, while others are left underfunded. She suggests that collective action and local discussions are essential in advocating for fair reimbursement and ensuring that essential services can be sustained without financial strain on general practitioners.
Collective Action as a Means of Advocacy
Dr. Bramw-Stainer addresses the importance of collective action among general practitioners as a strategy to push for better contractual terms and conditions. She encourages GPs to familiarize themselves with their contracts and engage in safe working practices to ensure they are not overextending themselves. This approach includes refusing unprofitable work and redirecting focus towards sustainable practice management. By collectively advocating for their rights and responsibilities, GPs can create a more equitable healthcare environment while ensuring patient needs are met without compromising their financial viability.
