14.11.12
Changes to GP contract
Source: Liz via www.nationalhealthexecutive.com
Article: London GPs ‘performing poorly’, says King’s Fund (7/11/12)
If consideration is being given to changes to the GP contract, it would make sense to also seriously review access to primary care services by the many overseas visitors who have no residency status in the UK yet still obtain free services, often at great cost.
This also has an enormous knock-on effect for secondary care where, although charging guidelines are defined by the Overseas Visitors Charging Regulations, the fact that a person is registered with a GP makes identification and therefore potential charging, much harder. The NHS is a national, not an international service, and the availability of free primary care to virtually all and sundry, has been overlooked for too long – possibly am unpalatable statement to some, but an undeniable fact.
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