A new contract has been approved with England’s GPs, allowing patients to now schedule more appointments online and request to see their regular doctor. The government has allocated an additional £889m annually to general practices, along with removing unnecessary bureaucracy and targets to ensure doctors have more time for patient care. The Labour government had promised to reinstate “family” doctors and eliminate the hectic morning phone calls for appointments.
The British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors’ union, views this agreement as a crucial initial step towards revitalizing general practices. However, doctors are calling on the government to engage in discussions about a completely new national contract for GPs during this parliamentary term. GP surgeries serve as the gateway to the National Health Service (NHS), but for quite some time, physicians have been voicing concerns about the strain on their services. Patients have also experienced prolonged wait times for appointments, highlighting the need for enhancements in the system.
Under the new contract set for the 2025-26 fiscal year, the total worth of the agreement will escalate by 7.2%. This includes almost £800m to cover escalating expenses like staff remuneration, building maintenance, and the influx of patients. Furthermore, the contract presents greater flexibility for surgeries in terms of hiring various healthcare professionals. GPs will receive enhanced compensation for administering routine childhood vaccinations. By eliminating burdensome targets, the government anticipates that GPs will have more time to eradicate the “8am scramble” for appointments. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting emphasizes the importance of these changes in rectifying the “broken NHS.”
Dr. Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of the BMA GPs’ committee, lauds the initial progress made with this contract but stresses the need for further advancements. She underscores the importance of securing long-term certainty about the collective future of GPs. The forthcoming comprehensive spending review is anticipated to unveil a new substantive GP practice contract for England, presenting a unique opportunity for the government to demonstrate its commitment to GPs and their patients
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
