The Secret to Finding a Better-Funded NHS GP Practice What if I...
Anish K Patel@anish_k_patel
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Jan 30, 2025
~2 min read
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The Secret to Finding a Better-Funded NHS GP Practice
What if I told you it’s possible to find a GP practice with up to 10% more funding than others? No need to analyse complex data.
Let me show you how to find them in two simple steps—and why this funding gap exists.
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What if I told you it’s possible to find a GP practice with up to 10% more funding than others? No need to analyse complex data.
Let me show you how to find them in two simple steps—and why this funding gap exists.
🧵
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Step 1: Visit the GP Practice Profile Page.
Go to the Fingertips website. Enter a postcode or area to search for your current GP practice or others nearby.
fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/genera…
Go to the Fingertips website. Enter a postcode or area to search for your current GP practice or others nearby.
fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/genera…
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Step 2: Locate the Deprivation Score Chart.
On the profile page, find the chart showing the "deprivation score." This score indicates how deprived the practice’s patient population is.
On the profile page, find the chart showing the "deprivation score." This score indicates how deprived the practice’s patient population is.
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The higher the score, the more likely the practice will have higher funding.
Let me say that in another way:
- The more affluent an area (wealthiest), the higher the funding.
- The more deprived the area (poorest), the lower the funding
And there lies the secret.
Let me say that in another way:
- The more affluent an area (wealthiest), the higher the funding.
- The more deprived the area (poorest), the lower the funding
And there lies the secret.
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Is this not the wrong way around?
You might assume that practices with higher funding serve areas with greater healthcare needs. In reality, the opposite is true. Higher-funded practices are often located in more affluent areas, which are associated with lower healthcare needs.
You might assume that practices with higher funding serve areas with greater healthcare needs. In reality, the opposite is true. Higher-funded practices are often located in more affluent areas, which are associated with lower healthcare needs.
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This happened due to the Carr-Hill formula, a funding model that has fundamentally failed to distribute funding equitably. In has in fact gone further and created inequality in distribution.
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How Big Is the Funding Difference? - it's GP sized.
Let’s break down the numbers. Using 2023 figures:
- Practices in the least deprived areas receive £171.51 per patient.
- Practices in the most deprived areas receive £155.36 per patient.
Let’s break down the numbers. Using 2023 figures:
- Practices in the least deprived areas receive £171.51 per patient.
- Practices in the most deprived areas receive £155.36 per patient.
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For an average practice with 9,834 patients (as of July 2023):
- Least deprived practices receive £1,686,629.34.
- Most deprived practices receive £1,527,810.24.
That’s a difference of £158,819.10.
- Least deprived practices receive £1,686,629.34.
- Most deprived practices receive £1,527,810.24.
That’s a difference of £158,819.10.
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That funding gap is enough to hire a full-time GP—and still have money left over. And remember, this is just the core funding.
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Core funding is the largest portion of practice funding, but other funding streams also contribute to the problem. In some cases, these streams use the same Carr-Hill formula, further compounding the disparity.
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General practice is suffering from real-term reductions in funding while healthcare needs continue to rise. However, those in the most deprived areas are being hit the hardest.
The Carr-Hill formula has enabled this disparity and a fundamental change is needed.
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The Carr-Hill formula has enabled this disparity and a fundamental change is needed.
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If you're interested in learning more, check out these resources:
nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/faire…
gponline.com/podcast-gp-fun…
northstaffslmc.co.uk/website/LMC001…
nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/faire…
gponline.com/podcast-gp-fun…
northstaffslmc.co.uk/website/LMC001…