GPC sets out principles of commissioning success
Released 20/08/2010
"Don't move too quickly," says chairman
The BMA's General Practitioners' Committee (GPC) has today published a paper outlining the key principles it says should underpin the development of GP commissioning.
In its first statement on the topic since the release of the government white paper, Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS, the GPC says these principles "should be used to define policy, inform debate and negotiations and ensure that good medical practice is enshrined" within the wide-sweeping changes the coalition government has set out.
The principles proposed include: that resources should be ploughed back into patient care rather than directly profiting GPs; that GPs' contracts should not conflict with their responsibilities in providing patient care; and that consortia should be driven by patient and public involvement and ensure that NHS providers are the providers of choice, where possible.
Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the GPC, commented that everyone involved should stick to the guiding principles for commissioning to be a success. He said: "If GP commissioning is to bring real change and benefit to patients and the NHS then time needs to be given to planning how it should work, based on the principles we've outlined.
"I would urge GPs to resist pressure to move too quickly, send questions and concerns to us and keep an eye on the BMA website as we will be producing practical guidance on a regular basis."
The Principles of GP Commissioning, together with more information, can be found by clicking here.
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