Tories to slash number of NHS managers to fund new GP surgeries
A future Tory government will cut back the number of NHS managers and management consultants to boost community care by building more GP surgeries and community diagnostic centres.
Under the proposals, the Conservatives claim the £1.1bn plan will be paid for by dramatically scaling back the number of NHS bosses to pre-pandemic levels and imposing tougher restrictions on the use of costly management consultants.
The party says the move will free up enough money to build 100 new GP surgeries and modernise 150 more in areas of the greatest need of improved primary care, mainly in areas with the highest housing growth.
The plans will also see a further 50 community diagnostic centres built, to deliver a further 2.5m checks and diagnostic tests per year.
A Conservative government will also expand the existing Pharmacy First scheme to deliver women menopause support, while providing treatment for minor conditions, such as acne and chest infections without needing to see a GP.
The party claims it will free up 20m GP appointments when it is fully operational.
Announcing the proposals, Rishi Sunak said: “The NHS is one of our most important national assets and the Conservatives are taking the long-term decisions to secure its future.
“As part of our clear plan we are investing in community services making it quicker, easier and more convenient for patients to receive the care they need and help to relieve pressure on hospital services.”
To deliver the new GP surgeries, the Conservatives are proposing to tweak planning rules to ensure health projects get a greater share of developer contributions under any new housing development.
The new surgeries will be built to set templates to cut down on the cost of the new builds. Along with the new diagnostic centres and the expansion of Pharmacy First, the party says it will cost £1.01bn a year by 2029/30.
It says it will be paid for by slashing the number of NHS managers by 5,500 back to 2019 levels, which it says will save £550 million each year by 2029-30.
The party is also planning to introduce new controls on management consultancy spend in government, which it claims will save an extra £640 million each year by 2029-30 – amounting to almost £1.2 billion in total.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “I know just how important it is for people to have access to health services and treatment close to home – and Pharmacy First and our hundreds of new Community Diagnostic Centres have been a real success story so far. But we must do more.
“Our clear plan will continue to enable our brilliant pharmacists, GPs and CDCs to do what they do best: serving their local community and boosting capacity in our NHS. We will make the NHS faster, simpler and fairer for all.”
