General Practice on ‘brink of collapse’ claims leading doctor

General practice in England is on the “brink of collapse”, a leading doctor has warned.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) GP committee, accused politicians of turning a blind eye to “spiralling pressures” affecting the health and social care systems.

In a speech to the national conference of Local Medical Committees, which represents grassroots GPs, Dr Nagpaul will highlight mounting workloads and staff shortages.

Meanwhile, he called for politicians to “end their callous disregard of the health needs of citizens”.

He will highlight the “avalanche of work” and a service that is “several thousand GPs short”, adding: “The plight of general practice remains parlous and on the brink of collapse.

“Individual practices have become frighteningly vulnerable, with one in 10 practices surveyed by the BMA saying they’re not sustainable and we’ve witnessed record numbers of practice closures - not surprising with one in three practices unable to fill GP vacancies.

“Even a seemingly secure practice is just one partner away from retiring to set off a domino effect which could lead to collapse.”

Dr Nagpaul will call on GPs to “resurrect their Darwinian survival instinct”, but will add: “The real solution is a political one – in which politicians must end their callous disregard of the health needs of citizens in an NHS that shamefully trails Europe in its funding, numbers of doctors and infrastructure.

“The only solution is for government to increase NHS funding to adequate levels, in which general practice receives a fair and larger share.”