Responding to the government's announcement setting out how its budget for general practice will be distributed Aruna Garcea, chair of the NHS Confederation's Primary Care Network, said: 

“We welcome the government’s decision to invest more in the GP workforce. Recent figures have demonstrated that the primary care sector is working harder than ever, yet the cost of delivering services coupled with low funding settlement means less money for the workforce and so ultimately delivering more for less at a time when demand is outstripping supply.

“Boosting funding for GP practices so that staff can receive their promised pay rises is a much-needed step towards putting the sector on a more sustainable footing. This is vital to start to address the underlying shortfall in fully qualified GPs and to allow even more care to be delivered in the community.

“However, what remains unclear is whether ARRS funding will receive the same level of investment to provide long-term sustainability and recognition for these staff who are an integral part of the general practice workforce.

“Primary care is the front door of the NHS and it is vital it is given right support and resources to boost capacity enough to meet rising demand. Any short-term solutions need to be placed in the context of the longer-term changes our members want to see.”