GPs and health leaders have been left reeling after the Government abolished NHS England with no warning.
It’s estimated that some 10,000 jobs will be lost from the organisation, with some staff moving to the Department for Health and Social Care, The Guardian reports.
In Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s statement on the decision, he remarked on the new GP contract agreed earlier this month.
“We have agreed the GP contract with GPs for the first time since the pandemic, our first step to bringing back the family doctor, and we have delivered the biggest uplift in hospice funding for a generation,” he wrote. “But there should be no doubt about the scale of the challenge ahead.”
Prof Phil Banfield, chair of BMA Council, said: “”Doctors’ experiences of reorganisations of the NHS have not been positive. This must not become a distraction from the crucial task that lies ahead: dealing with a historic workforce crisis, bringing down waiting lists and restoring the family doctor.”
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, NASGP chair, said: “With less bureaucracy promised, and the intention of the savings going to the front line, this significant reorganisation should enable GP practices having more autonomy to provide more GP appointments.
“As Professor Banfield warns, this could be a step backwards – certainly in the short-term – but could and should be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for general practice to take two steps forward.
“For GPs, I want to see far better career support, a significant reduction in workload, and a firm commitment to support the significant educational needs required that come with working in such a high-stakes, rapidly-evolving clinical environment.”