Patients most “in need” should be able to see the same doctor at every appointment in their local GP surgery, the government says. GPs will be rewarded financially if they do this and if they go “above and beyond” preventing common killers like heart disease or treating high blood pressure early, it says. The measures are included in proposed changes to the GP contract in England – the government says it will add an extra £889m to the existing budget.
GPs in England are taking collective action and working to rule. Under this new contract, the government wants to: reduce the number of targets that GPs have to meet, allow greater flexibility for surgeries to employ healthcare staff, ensure surgeries allow patients to get in touch electronically, as well as over the phone or in person during working hours, help patients with complex needs and long-term conditions see the same staff at appointments.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting called on GPs to end their collective action, work with government and “get the NHS back on its feet”. He said: “General practice is buckling under the burden of bureaucracy, with GPs filling out forms instead of treating patients. It is clear the system is broken, which is why we are slashing red tape, binning outdated performance targets, and instead freeing doctors up to do their jobs.
We promised to bring back the family doctor, but we want to be judged by results – not promises. That’s why we will incentivise GPs to ensure more and more patients see the same doctor at each appointment.” Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, of the BMA, said GP practices across the country had been “frantic with worry” around the impact of the “crippling rise” in national insurance contributions from April. Hopefully today’s news provides an important lifeline for our 6,000 plus practices…
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