Plaid Cymru Member of Parliament for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Liz Saville Roberts says that some GP surgeries in her constituency cannot afford to fill key staff roles because of Labour’s recent hike in employer National Insurance contributions.
Speaking during Wales Questions in the House of Commons, Mrs Saville Roberts cited Treflan Surgery in Pwllheli who now face additional costs of £19,000 following measures introduced in the Budget. Mrs Saville Roberts has been contacted by several GP practices voicing similar concerns.
GPs have voiced concerns about the impact of the rise in employer National Insurance contributions announced by the Chancellor.
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The NHS and rest of the public sector are exempt from the tax rise - but that does not cover private care homes or hospices which provide NHS services, or GPs that function as businesses.
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Speaking in the House of Commons, Liz Saville Roberts MP said:
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The BMA in Wales says that GP funding has decreased as a percentage of the Welsh government’s budget by over 2.6% since 2005. Treflan Surgery in Pwllheli in my constituency cannot afford to fill key staff roles. Budget measures will cost them an extra £19,000. The Secretary of State for Wales knows the state of the NHS in Wales, so why is she instrumental in Labour, at both ends of the M4, threatening GP surgeries?
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Liz Saville Roberts MP added:
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I have serious concerns about the impact of the increase in National Insurance employer contributions on some GP practices in my Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency, many of whom are already struggling due to historic chronic underfunding. This additional financial burden will heap further pressure on our primary care providers. Likewise, care homes are treated as private businesses like any other by the Treasury. The increase in employer NI contributions will have far reaching repercussions across both health and social care settings, creating a perfect storm in which some GP practices have no choice but to cut back on services as they cannot afford to keep them running. GP practices are already struggling to afford to recruit the staff they need to meet patient demand, so any additional barrier to recruitment will further compromise the delivery of services. The UK government must urgently rethink this policy.
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