The British Medical Association (BMA) and NHS England are at loggerheads over GP funding, with the BMA calling for at least an uplift in line with inflation, while NHS England says that any uplift would have to be limited to a maximum of 1 per cent.

The BMA’s argument is that GPs have already delivered ‘substantial efficiency savings’ and have had their take-home pay cut, so deserve a rise in funding that at least matches the current rate of inflation, which is 2.7 per cent on the consumer price inflation index and 3.3 if using retail prices.

However, NHS England countered with the fact that GP funding has risen more in real terms than for other doctors and that practice expenses could be further reduced by sharing back-office functions, working in partnership with local pharmacies and delegating more GP work to practice staff.

Both bodies submitted official evidence forward to the Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB), published last week and it looks as though they are not going to agree any time soon.

According to the BMA, the value of GP’s contracts has fallen by 15 per cent since 2007 and staff costs have risen. The Association also urged the DDRB to take into account the impact of pension changes on GP expenses when considering pay.

However, in its submission to the DDRB, NHS England alleged that GP pay has actually risen by 41 per cent over the period 2002/03 to 2011/12, compared with a rise in the pay of consultants and nurses of only 25 per cent and 18 per cent respectively over the same period.