THE rise in employers’ national insurance announced at the 2024 Budget could put 22,143 Somerset General Practitioner (GP) appointments at risk due to increased costs to practices Liberal Democrat analysis has revealed.

It comes as Adam Dance, MP for Yeovil and South Somerset, calls on the government to “urgently rethink” and scrap the hike.

Adam Dance MP has called on the government to exempt GPs and other health and care providers from the rise, but so far ministers have refused to do so.

The Liberal Democrats are seeking to use amendments to upcoming legislation on the Budget to exempt GPs from the National Insurance tax rise.

The Institute of General Practice Management has estimated that the rise will mean the average GP surgery’s tax bill will go up by around £20,000 a year. This could end up costing GPs in Somerset £1,240,000 for all 62 practices in the area.

This is the equivalent cost of providing 22,143 GP appointments, at £56 per appointment. It means it could cost the average GP surgery in Somerset the equivalent of 357 appointments a year.

“GPs in our area are set to be hammered by higher taxes at a time when they have already been run into the ground by the previous Conservative government,” Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil and South Somerset Adam Dance said. “I have heard from hardworking GPs in our area who have said that all this GP penalty will achieve is to make it harder for people in Yeovil to get an appointment when thousands are already struggling to do so.

He added: “The Chancellor must urgently rethink these proposals and exempt GPs from this misguided tax hike. We cannot rescue local health services whilst burdening them with even more costs.”