DOVERCOURT GROUP PRACTICE / SHEFFIELD LMC

We are experiencing a significant increase in demand for appointments, queries, and prescriptions. We apologise as this can lead to delay in answering the telephone or being able to offer appointments and advise in a timely manner.

Problems faced by all practices across England:

The NHS budget for 2024/25 will grow by 0.2%, well below inflation.

The government investment in primary car has fallen from 8.9% (2015/16) to less than 7% (2024/25). This is equivalent to a 7% cut in funding.

Your practice receives just £107.57 per year for each patient, or 30p per day – less than the cost of an apple.

The overall population in England is increasing – 53,500,000 in 2012 to 57,100,000 in 2022.

There are fewer GPs due to funding limits. There are 1759 fewer fully qualified full time GPs compared to 2015. As a result, each full time GP is responsible for 356 more patients than in 2015.

GPs need to supervise other clinical staff, which can reduce appointment availability.

People are living longer with more complex health and social needs.

Some GP surgeries are having to close or merge to maintain services to patients.

We are trying our best to provide the service our patients need however due to the funding crisis across general practice in England we are restricted to what we can offer in the time scales that NHS England suggest.

Published on 16 July 2024