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Press release: GMS negotiators agree to carry out review in two stages

15 Sep 2005

Negotiators from NHS Employers and the BMA have formally agreed to carry out the GMS review over two stages instead of one. The review is for the period from 2005/6 to 2008/9.

NHS Employers lead negotiator Barbara Hakin today confirmed some changes will be made to the Quality and Outcomes Framework from April 2006. Work will continue on the review of the global sum allocations formula but it will not be implemented until 2007/8 at the earliest.

Dr Barbara Hakin, who is chief executive of Bradford South and West PCT and a former GP, said:
"Both sides have agreed to carry out a two stage review. This will give us time to further measure the impact of the GMS contract, which, after all, has only been in operation for just over a year. It will also allow the review to take into consideration any impact from the forthcoming English White Paper on care outside hospitals.

"Negotiations are progressing and we are planning to make some changes to the Quality and Outcomes Framework from April 2006. The two sides have also been discussing how to include some of the Government priorities, such as Patient Choice and practised based commissioning into the GMS contract for England."

NHS Employers and the BMA have also agreed that any changes to the GMS contract in 2006/2007 must make services better for patients, be fair to the profession and be good value to taxpayers.

Notes for editors

1. NHS Employers, the employers' organisation for the NHS in England, was launched on 1 November 2004. Its work programme includes pay negotiations, health and safety, equality and diversity, recruitment and retention, the NHS Pension Scheme review, European and UK employment practice, safer recruitment and doctor disciplinary. It also delivers the NHS Careers service.
2. NHS Employers is part of the NHS Confederation but has its own director, policy board and assembly.
3. NHS Employers, on behalf of the Department of Health, are leading the review of the General Medical Services (GMS) contract in conjunction with the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association.

Contact details

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If you have a media enquiry, please contact the press office team:

• Gemma Jeffcoate
  0207 074 3308 or gemma.jeffcoate@nhsemployers.org
• Emma Stafford
  0207 074 3307 or emma.stafford@nhsemployers.org

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