Ministers must protect essential health & social care services from their own ‘punitive’ NI hike – George

The Chancellor’s hike in national insurance will seriously undermine community pharmacies, social care providers, GP practices and hospices, says West Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly MP, Andrew George.  

Figures published today indicate this will result in 20,000 fewer GP appointments in Cornwall alone. The CEO of Cornwall Hospice Care has warned it would strip a quarter of a million from their budget before pay increases have been factored in. 

Mr George said, “Before the budget, the PM was right to say that ‘those with the broadest shoulders should bear the greatest burden.’ 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 2025. Furthermore, analysis by the Liberal Democrats suggests that the cost to 55 GP practices across Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly could be well over £1 million – putting over 20,000 appointments at risk.  

George, a member of the influential Health & Social Care Select Committee, continued:  

“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 payrises for hardworking front line 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.”