After almost a decade of pressure from the BMA, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has set out new, improved guidance on how premises payments to GP contractors should be calculated and made.
The long-anticipated update to the Premises Costs Directions (PCDs), the rules which regulate how GP premises are funded, will bring changes to assist premises costs, including permission for commissioners to award improvement grants of up to 100% of the project value (up from 66%), and new powers for commissioners to better support contractors.
These changes were initially agreed upon five years ago as part of the multi-year GP contract in 2019. The full guidance will be published at a later date.
Responding to the announcement, Dr Gaurav Gupta, BMA GPC England premises lead, said, “We’re pleased to see positive steps to help GP premises owners, and any partners aspiring to buy into property-owning partnership in advancing their services to provide the best possible care for patients. This update has been in the pipeline for many years, so this is good progress for our members who have been patiently waiting.
“But we still have a very long way to go, with no additional funds going into ICB budget lines. The PCDs have changed, but commissioners will likely tell GPs they lack any new resource, meaning patients are unlikely to see the necessary and long overdue transformation of GP surgery premises that are so desperately needed.
“The past decade has seen us caring for an additional eight million patients, with over a thousand practices lost and record numbers of appointments. It’s clear to patients and GPs alike that we must push Government and NHS England for significantly greater investment into General Practice premises.”
The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.
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