Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Rejected
Paragraph: 102
Examine limiting patient list sizes to 2500, reducing to 1850 over five years.
Recommendation
The Government should examine the possibility of limiting the list size of patients to, for example, 2500 on a list, which would slowly reduce to a figure of around 1850 over five years as more GPs are recruited as planned. These numbers should reflect varying levels of need in local populations. This would draw us closer in line with our European counterparts, and help improve access and continuity. It should only be implemented in a way that does not undermine the fundamental rights of patients to access a GP.
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to limit GP patient list sizes, stating that general practices determine their own workforce size and mix, patient care is delivered by a range of health professionals, and significant numbers of additional primary care professionals have already been recruited.
Paragraph Reference:
102
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
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.