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Press release: NHS Employers' response to National Audit Office report on GMS contract28 Feb 2008 Alastair Henderson, acting director of NHS Employers, which represents NHS organisations on workforce issues and which is now responsible for negotiating the GP contract, said: 'This report makes it clear that the contract is beginning to deliver the benefits intended. The NAO confirms that progress has already been made on 11 out of its 13 original stated aims. 'Costs have been more than originally anticipated but some of the figures quoted are misleading. The figure of £1.76 billion relates to expenditure above the Gross Investment Guarantee. This was the figure promised by the Government during the negotiations as the very minimum they would invest in primary care. Expenditure was in the end £406m or 2.8% above that actually allocated by the Government for spending on the contract over a 3 year period. 'The report also acknowledges that the contract changes in 2006/07 negotiated by NHS Employers ensured that expenditure on GP services has been controlled. These revisions have saved £498m for the NHS. 'The contract brought radical change, for the first time linking improvements in patient care to rewards for GPs in ways which are ground breaking and have received international acclaim. We knew it would take some time for the contract to bed in, and it is still early days, but we have made some significant progress in the last few years and patients are seeing the benefits. 'We support the report's recommendations, especially on the phasing out of the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee. 'Our challenge for the future is to ensure that the contract provides value for money through future changes and that PCTs make the most out of the opportunities it presents to extend the services GPs offer their patients.' Notes for editors
Contact detailsThe press office provides a comprehensive service to keep journalists informed about the work of NHS Employers. If you have a media enquiry, please contact the press office team:
For out of hours media enquiries, please contact the duty press officer on 07880 500726. Last reviewed 28 Feb 2008 |
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