Liberal Democrat analysis has revealed that the rise in Employers’ National Insurance contributions announced at the Budget could put 22,857 GP appointments at risk in Oxfordshire due to increased costs to practices. 

Oxfordshire’s Lib Dem MPs are calling on the government to “urgently rethink” and scrap the hike on GPs.

The Lib Dems are seeking to use amendments to upcoming legislation on the Budget to exempt GPs from the National Insurance increase.

According to the Institute of General Practice Management the increase will raise the average GP surgery’s tax bill by approximately £20,000 a year. This could end up costing GPs in Oxfordshire an estimated £1,280,000 across all 64 practices in the area.

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This added expense is the equivalent cost of providing 22,857 GP appointments, assuming a cost of £56 per appointment. For an average GP surgery in Oxfordshire, this would equate to the cost of around 357 appointments per year.

Oxfordshire’s Liberal Democrat MPs, Layla Moran, Charlie Maynard, Calum Miller, Freddie van Mierlo and Olly Glover said in a joint statement: “GPs in our area are set to be hammered by higher taxes at a time when they have already been run into the ground by the previous Conservative government.

“We have heard from hardworking GPs in our area who have said that this GP penalty will only make it harder for people in Oxfordshire to get an appointment when thousands are already struggling to do so.

“The Chancellor must urgently rethink these proposals and exempt GPs from this misguided tax hike. We cannot hope to rescue local health services whilst burdening them with additional costs.”