The Chancellor’s hike in national insurance will seriously undermine community pharmacies, social care providers, GP practices and hospices, says MP Andrew George.
Andrew George MP
New figures indicate this will result in 20,000 fewer GP appointments in Cornwall alone. The chief executive of Cornwall Hospice Care has warned it would strip £250,000 from their budget before pay increases have been factored in.
“Before the budget, the PM was right to say that ‘those with the broadest shoulders should bear the greatest burden’,” said Mr George.
“It’s therefore disappointing the government has chosen to raise taxes on some of those who can least afford it. GPs, hospices, pharmacies, and care providers will be adversely affected by the employers’ NI increase.”
Highlighting the detrimental local impact of this policy on the sector, the cost to Cornwall Hospice Care will exceed £230,000 per year from April. Furthermore, analysis by the Liberal Democrats suggests that the cost to the 55 GP practices across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly could be well over £1 million, putting more than 20,000 appointments at risk.
Mr George, a member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, said: “The feedback I have received from the local health and social care sector is that this tax hike is a ‘punitive measure’.
“Some providers will be forced to cut services, others will sadly close, and pay rises for hard-working frontline staff will be under threat.
“Liberal Democrats proposed raising the money by reversing tax cuts on big banks, energy giants, and social media multinationals. I am pressing ministers to think again.”
