Dear patients, please see attached a letter which asks for your support in contacting your local MP with regard to changes in National Insurance in General Practice.
Here is an example letter that has been suggested by the Practice Partners
Dear [MP Name]
I have become aware that the recent budget (specifically changes to employer’s NI costs) is likely to reduce NHS GP services at a time when they are already stretched. Whilst hospitals will have these costs reimbursed; despite providing increasingly complex NHS services with a reduced share of the NHS budget, GP surgeries are now facing a further budget reduction. They are deemed to be private businesses yet must comply with a strict NHS contract in which funding has already reduced in real terms considerably in the last 10 years. Absorbing the additional NI costs with no business or tax mitigation will inevitably lead to a reduction in the number of staff employed, given also the need to consider an increase in the national minimum wage introduced at the same time.
I urge you to challenge this robustly with urgency, given GPs will need to plan service provision well in advance of the April 2025 introduction of these costs.
I would be grateful if you were able to confirm your support?
Yours sincerely
[Your name]
[Address – 1st line, postcode needed to confirm you are a constituent]