BMA Response To The Government's Imposition Of A Draconian Contract On GP´s, UK

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 27 Dec 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Responding to the news that the government is imposing draconian contract terms on GP´s to force them to extend opening hours in a way that will hit patient care, Dr Laurence Buckman, Chairman of the BMA's GP Committee said:

"The government seems hell bent on tearing up a quality based contract designed to improve the health of patients and save lives less than four years after Gordon Brown approved it as Chancellor.

"These cuts will destabilise general practice and make it difficult for practices to maintain quality. An average practice with 6,000 patients could stand to lose £36,000 in resources(1). The government is showing a careless disregard for patients with diabetes, chronic lung disease, heart disease and those at risk of strokes - quality markers to improve the care of all these patient groups are being removed by the government to finance longer hours for commuters. GPs will do their best to continue to provide good quality care but Gordon Brown's political objective will inevitably affect the chronically ill."

"GPs were prepared to extend their hours and the BMA came up with a workable proposal. Imposing this alternative contract change on GP´s sends a very negative message to all NHS staff about how little the Prime Minister values them. GP´s have hit 95% of the government's targets through the Quality and Outcomes Framework and their patient satisfaction record is high according to the government's own survey(2).

"The BMA will poll GPs to seek their views and will continue with talks during the next thirteen weeks to try to achieve a better outcome not just for our members but for the future of the NHS and for patients. The government plans as announced today will destabilise and harm general practice services for patients."

References

(1) By removing points from the Quality and Outcomes Framework and introducing other changes the government has doubled the financial impact on practices compared to the deal on the table yesterday.

(2) The Government's GP Patient Survey was published in July 2007. It surveyed over two million people and showed 84% of patients are happy with current opening hours. Only four in every hundred patients wanted extended opening hours in the evening and seven out of every hundred patients wanted Saturday surgeries. The survey cost £11 million.

British Medical Association
http://www.bma.org.uk