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A future Conservative government would cut the number of NHS managers and management consultants in order to strengthen local care by building more GP practices and community diagnostic centres.
The Conservatives argue their proposals would pay for the £1.1bn plan by drastically cutting the number of NHS executives to pre-pandemic levels and imposing strict limits on the use of expensive management consultants.
The party says the measure will ensure enough funding to build 100 new GP practices and modernise a further 150 in areas where improved primary care is most needed, particularly in areas with the highest rates of housing growth.
The plan is to build 50 more community diagnostic centres and carry out an additional 2.5 million examinations and diagnostic tests per year.
The Conservative government would also expand the existing “Pharmacy First” scheme, which provides menopause support to women, to offer treatment for minor symptoms such as acne and chest infections without the need to see a GP.
The party claims that once the scheme is fully operational it will free up 20 million GP appointment slots.
Announcing the proposals, Rishi Sunak said: “The NHS is one of our most important national assets and the Conservatives are making long-term decisions to secure its future.”
“As part of our clear plan, we are investing in community services to make it quicker, easier and more convenient for patients to get the care they need and reduce pressure on hospital services.”
The Conservatives are proposing to tweak planning rules to ensure health projects receive a bigger share of developer contributions on new housing developments to build new GP practices.
The new clinics will be built to set a benchmark to reduce the cost of building new buildings, which the party says, along with a new diagnostic centre and an expansion of Pharmacy First, will cost £1.01 billion a year by 2029/30.
The company said the costs could be met by reducing the number of NHS administrators by 5,500 to 2019 levels, which it said would save £550 million a year by 2029-30.
The party also plans to introduce new limits on government spending on management consultancy, which it claims could save £640 million a year by 2029-30, totalling around £1.2 billion.
Health Minister Victoria Atkins said: “We know how important it is for people to have access to health services and treatment close to home. Pharmacy First and our hundreds of new community diagnostic centres have been really successful so far, but we must go further.”
“Our clear plan will enable our talented pharmacists, GPs and CDCs to continue doing what they do best – serving their communities and building NHS capacity. We will make the NHS faster, simpler and fairer for everyone.”