UK Government may have to pay $1.76bn extra to GP
February 29, 2008
As per a report, the new General Practitioners (GP) contract has cost the Government a whooping ₤ 1.761.76bn more than predicted in its first three years and the productivity has fallen.
The new GP contract in England has cost the government £1.76bn more than predicted in its first three years but productivity has fallen, says a report. Now the partners are putting seven fewer hours a week on average, resulting in fall but earnings have gone up by 58%. The National Audit Office found according to a report. The spending watchdog said primary care trusts had not used powers to force better access for patients. However a heath minister said the contract had helped stem a “haemorrhage” of GPs from the NHS. The contract - introduced in 2004 - offered incentives for GP practices to improve quality of care
As an encouragement to GPs the Government gave GPs the opportunity to opt-out of delivering out-of-hours care. However, the huge investment in GP care, failed to deliver improved quality , while the pay of salaried GPs who are employed has increased by just 3% over two years, the average GP partner is taking home 58% more. While the number of consultations carried out had increased, individual GP productivity is reduced, they had not kept pace with the rise in funding It was too early to tell if the incentives offered to GPs were actually improving care, the NAO said, although there were “moderate improvements” in areas such as asthma and diabetes. Karen Taylor, its director of health, said that the contract was a “bad deal” for patients and taxpayers.
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The press has lost sight of the fact that there are losers as well as winners under the new GP contact. Despite having an above average number of patients and doing well in gaining ‘quality’ (so called) points, last year (Jan 1st 2007 to Dec 31st 2007) I received 2 cheques from my single handed practice which totalled £5575-20. I’m sure an accountant would say “that isn’t the whole story” … but it sure is for me while I’m trying to run a practice. Last month (Feb 2008) I paid £11,000 into the practice account in order that we can pay the staff … albeit a bit late. So, at the beginning of the year, whilst many of the other GPs in the area are happily paying themselves a five figure sum every month for their services to the NHS and providing a safe/satisfactory service, I am forking out for the privilege of looking after my patients. This then is a case of the NHS (in the guise of the PCT) actively discriminating against a Mid-Essex practice and its patients – knowingly providing a substandard service. This is taking place, remember, under a Labour Government - Nye Bevan must be spinning in his grave!
Dr John Cormack