Thornbury and Yate MP Steve Webb calls for fairer funding system for GP practices in South Gloucestershire (From Gazette Series)

Thornbury and Yate MP Steve Webb calls for fairer funding system for GP practices in South Gloucestershire

11:04am Friday 27th January 2012 in News By Marion Sauvebois

AN MP has condemned the ‘grossly unfair’ way in which NHS resources are allocated to GP practices across the region, leaving villages such as Almondsbury struggling.

Thornbury and Yate MP Steve Webb called on South Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust (PCT) to introduce a more equitable funding system for local surgeries.

He blamed the body’s current allowance criteria, which sees some practices receiving substantially less per patient than others, regardless of performance.

Mr Webb named Almondsbury Surgery as one of main victims of what he deemed an unjust distribution method.

"Most people would assume that each surgery gets a fixed amount of money for each patient on its books," he said.

"But the truth is much more complex, and the current pattern of practice funding bears little relation to clinical need or the quality of service provided."

He said Almondsbury Surgery received the lowest funding per head despite being one of the best-performing.

"The PCT needs to hold an urgent review so that people across South Gloucestershire get fair treatment," he added.

Dr Martin Lockyer, one of Almondsbury Surgery's three GPs, told the Gazette the practice was grateful for Mr Webb's efforts and was hoping his plea would help them secure more funding in these difficult times.

"We don't feel badly towards the PCT. The funding formula is complex and the PCT is tied. We are a high-achieving practice but things have been increasingly difficult for us."

The surgery had to make the hard decision to close its smaller branch in Olveston a few weeks ago.

A letter was sent to the site's patients informing them that they would soon be moved to and treated at the main GP practice.

Dr Lockyer added: "It cost a lot to maintain and it was not sustainable. The reality is that times are hard."

The MP met South Gloucestershire PCT chief executive Deborah Evans to discuss the issue.

Locality director for NHS South Gloucestershire Jane Gibbs responded to Mr Webb's complaint.

She said: "GP practices in South Gloucestershire PCT receive funding via a number of different national contracts such as general medical services and personal medical services contracts.

"The funding for each of these contracts work differently, for example some are based on historical funding to the practice whilst others calculate funding using a weighted patient population model.

"The PCT recently implemented a full review and as an outcome has significantly reduced the variation of funding to GP practices.

"This has resulted in some GP practices having a reduction in funding and some GP practices due to receive an uplift to their funding."