DHSC responds to DDA employer NIC concerns

The DDA has received this response from the DHSC correspondence office in relation to the DDA’s concerns about the increased employers’ National Insurance contributions.

Dear Dr West,

Thank you for your correspondence of 1 November to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care about the effect on GP practices of an increase in employers’ National Insurance (NI) contributions. I have been asked to reply.

I appreciate your concerns.

The Government have made the decisions to fix the foundations of the public finances in the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department will be £22.6billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement. The employers’ NI rise will be implemented in April 2025. The Government will set out further details on allocation of funding for next year in due course.

Primary care providers – including general practices – are valued independent contractors that provide nearly £20billion worth of NHS services. Every year the Government consults with each contracted sector about the services it provides, and the money providers are entitled to in return. The matter of the employers’ NI increase will be dealt with as part of that process. The Government will begin discussions on the annual GP contract soon.

I hope this reply is helpful.

Yours sincerely,

Correspondence Officer
Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries
Department of Health and Social Care