30.09.14
All patients to benefit from ‘named’ GP for care
Changes to the GP contract mean that all patients in England, including children, will benefit from having a named, accountable doctor who will be responsible for coordinating their care.
Patients will also have online access to more detailed information from their patient records and a larger proportion of available appointments will be bookable online.
The changes to the GP GMS (General Medical Services) contract, agreed by GP leaders and the government, are expected to provide a much-needed “breathing space” for general practice and “greater stability” for patients.
The agreement is the result of negotiations which take place every year to make changes to the GP contract, other key changes include a reduction in bureaucracy to allow GPs more time to manage the care of vulnerable patients more effectively and reduce unnecessary admissions to A&E; and a reimbursement of practices for the cost of maternity/paternity leave locums, freeing up resources for patient services.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the BMA’s GP Committee (GPC), said: “After tough negotiations, we have reached an agreement with the government which gives general practice a much-needed breathing space and greater stability for patients.
“We welcome, in particular, those changes aimed at freeing up GPs’ time and improving patients’ experience of general practice. Measures to reduce bureaucracy, provide enhanced care to vulnerable patients and allow family doctors to spend more time with patients are a step in the right direction.”
The agreement also includes the publication of GP net earnings and from 1 April 2015, it will be a contractual requirement for all practices to have a patient participation group (PPG) and to make reasonable efforts for this to be representative of the practice population.
Dame Barbara Hakin, national director for commissioning operations at NHS England, said: “Having been a GP, I know how central primary care is to the health and wellbeing of patients and their carers. This continues to grow as more patients with complex health needs receive care in the community.
“Our vision is to see general practice play an even stronger role at the heart of local communities, offering more joined up and proactive care for patients. This is vital in addressing the rising demands on NHS services.”
There is also a commitment for NHS Employers, NHS England and the BMA GPC to work together to address workforce issues currently being experienced by GP practices. The BMA highlighted that recruitment figures released in June 2013, by Health Education England, suggested there were 451 GP trainee vacancies across the UK.
Dr Nagpaul said: “We must not lose sight of the relentless pressure on general practice from rising demand, declining resources and the move to transfer services from hospitals into the community.
“We are now at a critical juncture, faced with a shortage of GPs, with surgeries closing and facilities in many practices increasingly inadequate to deliver high-quality care.”
GPC and NHS England will separately submit evidence to the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body (DDRB) in relation to the 2015-16 uplift to the GMS Contract. The government will consider the DDRB recommendations before making a final decision.
Stephen Golledge, lead negotiator for the NHS Employers organisation, said: “I am pleased that we have been able to achieve a negotiated agreement before the end of September.
“This will give GPs and their staff time to prepare for the changes which commence in April 2015. The agreed changes will deliver improved care for patients and should further strengthen their relationship with GPs. We believe that the agreement also represents value for money for the tax payer recognising the current economic climate.”
Full details of the GP GMS contract changes are available at: www.nhsemployers.org/gms201516
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