New standardised contract for GPs is “naïve”
Released 16/02/2012
The bid to have a standardised contract for all GP practices has been branded as “naïve” according to a report by the HSJ
The bid to have a standardised contract for all GP practices has been branded as “naïve” according to a report by the HSJ
The NHS commissioning board has suggested that the initiative should be up and running in the next two to three years.
There are currently three variations of the GP contract: general medical services, personal medical services and alternative provider medical services. Personal medical and alternative provider services account for nearly half of primary care spending and are negotiated in the local area. Under the present system practice incomes vary depending on the area they are in, as do the services they provide.
The plan is for all practices across the board to be put on a standardised contract which will reduce the variation in practice incomes considerably.
How this will be implemented has not yet been clarified.
An NHS spokesman told the HSJ: “Work is underway to get to a more sustainable and affordable contractual model, which is expected to release significant savings [in commissioning administration costs].”
Committee lead negotiator for commissioning Chaand Nagpaul said the plan was “naive and unrealistic.”
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