Government hatches 'crazy' plan to send Britons to GPs for cut on energy bills

Tory ministers are facing a backlash over 'crazy' plans to send Britons to their GP - for a doctor's note discount on energy bills.

The idea is one of many being hatched by Treasury officials to cut bills this winter - and Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak could choose to implement it once in No10.

But Labor said ministers had 'lost the plot' because expectations to see a GP are already so high - and doctors do not hold the financial records of Britons.

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'The Tories have lost track of the cost of living crisis and have no idea the level of pressure on the NHS.

The sweeping option, revealed by The Sun on Sunday and confirmed by Mirror sources, was crafted by officials as a way to target money to those in need.

As the bills ran up to £6,000 a year, the GP would talk to the patient and see if they needed help because they were sick, elderly or 'just in need' “, it was reported.

Liz Truss, who is likely to become PM, would then decide whether or not to take up the idea (

Picture:

AFP via Getty Images)

They would then write a note saying that the person should withdraw gas and electricity money, cash from the local council or a voucher.

But Dr David Wrigley of the doctors' union BMA said: "At a time when GPs are already overwhelmed by the biggest workforce crisis and the longest waiting lists in memory, this addition to their workload is totally unacceptable.

"It is incredible that government ministers think it appropriate to suggest that GPs undertake this work.

"Over the next few months, GPs will already have to worry about implementing the Covid and flu vaccination programs that will be needed to see the NHS through the winter, in addition to their burden daily overwhelming workload and the massive Covid backlog we are seeing now.

"They don't have the time or skills to do the work of the welfare system.

"The government has not discussed this with us in any form - to push these sorts of proposals through the media is deeply unprofessional.

“We completely reject any suggestion that GPs do this work.”

It came as Tory Kwasi Kwarteng - a supporter of Liz Truss who is set to become her chancellor - insisted: "I want to reassure the British people that help is coming."

The Business Secretary said, “I understand the deep anxiety this is causing. As winter approaches, millions of families will worry about how they will make ends meet.”

p>

He added that Ms Truss "will look into what m...