Most people don’t think of accountants as playing a role in the future of the NHS.
But for Vijay Acharya, supporting GP practices has become far more than balancing the books. It is about helping surgeries stay open, protecting local healthcare and ensuring doctors can continue caring for their communities.
As Managing Director of Charles Rippin & Turner (CRT), a specialist healthcare accountancy firm that has supported medical professionals since they established in 1948. Vijay spends his days working with more than 300 GP practices and healthcare organisations across the UK. While politicians debate the future of primary care, he is helping practices navigate the financial realities behind the headlines.
Vijay said: “When people struggle to get a GP appointment, they naturally think about the shortage of doctors.
“What they don’t see is the financial pressure happening behind the scenes. Practices are trying to cope with rising costs, increasing demand and growing administrative burdens, all while continuing to provide the best possible care for their patients.”
For Vijay, accountancy has never been just about numbers.
He said: “Every spreadsheet represents real people.
“It represents doctors trying to keep their practice running, receptionists working under immense pressure and patients who rely on those services every day. That’s what motivates me.”
It is a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly.
From CRT’s offices in Esher, Vijay and his team support practices across Surrey, London and the wider UK, advising on everything from practice finances and tax planning to NHS funding, pensions, business strategy and long-term sustainability.
He said: “The healthcare sector is unlike any other.
“The rules are constantly changing, and practices are expected to do more with less. Our job is to guide them through those challenges so they can focus on looking after patients.”
Over the years, Vijay has watched general practice change dramatically.
The number of GP surgeries has continued to decline while patient demand has grown significantly. Funding pressures, workforce shortages and increasing bureaucracy have placed a strain on practices that were already operating under immense pressure.
Vijay said: “It’s heartbreaking to see practices forced to merge or close.
“Patients lose the continuity of seeing a doctor who knows them, and communities lose something incredibly valuable. Those are the consequences people don’t always see.”
As a respected commentator on primary care finance, Vijay regularly speaks out about the issues affecting GP surgeries because he believes meaningful change starts with understanding what is happening on the ground.
He said: “We work alongside these practices every single day.
“We see the challenges before they become headlines, which is why it’s so important that the people making decisions understand what’s really happening.”
Despite the pressures, Vijay remains optimistic.
Vijay said: “I’ve worked with some incredible healthcare professionals over the years.
“Their resilience never ceases to amaze me. They continue to put patients first, even when the system makes that incredibly difficult. If we can take some of the financial burden away and help them plan for the future, then we’re doing exactly what we’re here to do.”
For Vijay, success has never been measured just by profit.
He said: “It’s about helping GP practices remain financially sustainable, protecting local healthcare and enabling doctors to focus on patient care. That’s what makes this work worthwhile.”
After years spent advising the medical profession, Vijay continues to believe that supporting GP practices isn’t just about finance. It’s about safeguarding the future of primary care, one practice at a time.
