GP practices will have to pay half the cost of essential support for when they are placed in ‘special measures’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), in a move described by GP leaders as the ‘final straw’ for many practices.

NHS England is working with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) to develop a 12-month ‘intensive peer support’ pilot programme for practices that have been found ‘inadequate’ in some areas by the CQC’s new inspection regime, and is designed to prevent them from having their registration removed.

However, NHS England said that practices placed in special measures will have to contribute half the as yet unknown costs for the support package, even though, in all likelihood, the majority of practices found to be inadequate are likely to be underfunded anyway, leading to fears that charging practices that need support could lead to further practice closures.

Apparently, the special measures will allow the CQC and NHS England to oversee the practice and set out clear expectations for improvement. However, if there are no sufficient improvements within a further six months, the practice will have its registration removed.

NHS England has said that it is working to develop a framework for local area teams that outlines how they will develop a plan for practices rated ‘inadequate’ or placed in ‘special measures’ to ensure progress is made before a re-inspection.

However, a spokesman for the General Practitioners’ Committee (GPC) said that the new practice could be “the final straw” for some practices, adding that the end result will be yet further practice closures to the detriment of those patients most in need of more and better GP services.