Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Deferred
Paragraph: 64
Prohibitively expensive pensions tax bills disincentivize older GPs from remaining in practice.
Conclusion
Older GPs continue to face prohibitively expensive pensions tax bills which act as a significant disincentive to them staying in practice. Efforts taken to date to reduce the impact on GPs have not been sufficient to prevent experienced GPs from leaving the profession in significant numbers, however we note the Government’s recent consultation on extending ‘retire and return’ arrangements into next year. Experienced GPs are also likely to be employers which may make their pensions arrangements more complicated.
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation, stating that it does not accept it because the size and skills mix of the workforce are matters for individual general practices to determine, which is unrelated to the recommendation on GP pension tax bills.
Paragraph Reference:
64
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
Do not accept. We recognise that GP to patient ratios and the size of patient lists can vary across England. However, as independent contractors, it is for each general practice to determine the size and skills mix of their workforce to meet the reasonable needs of their patients, and we therefore do not accept this recommendation. There is no Government recommendation for how many patients a GP should have assigned, or the ratio of GPs or other practice staff to patients. The demands each patient places on their GP are different and can be affected by many different factors, including rurality and patient demographics. Patient care is not only delivered by GPs but also by the range of health professionals available within a practice or Primary Care Network who are able to respond to the needs of their patients. Ensuring the correct mix of skills available in general practice is critical to delivering appropriate patient care across England, and we are taking steps to diversify the general practice workforce. As of 31 March 2023, over 29,000 additional primary care professionals have been recruited compared with a baseline of March 2019.