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This page has frequently asked questions about proposed changes to the GMS contract for 2008/09 to support employers with local handling. What did the GPC poll its members on? What do the proposed arrangements mean for PCTs? Is it a fair offer, particularly following last year's decision for no uplift? Why does the offer seek more efficiencies - wasn't this covered in 06/07? What changes did the Department of Health propose if a negotiated settlement was not possible? What is happening now?
What did the GPC poll its members on?
• The recycling of the resource within the current Access and Choice DESs (which end in March 2008) to incentivise the provision of routine, pre-bookable care for patients outside core hours. In return for approximately £2.95 per patient, practices would be expected to offer 30 minutes of surgery time per 1000 patients – around 3 hours per average practice per week – at times agreed with the PCT and in response to patients’ wishes, as evidenced in the GP patient survey. Discussions are continuing with the GPC on the details of this new DES. • The recycling of 58.5 QOF points to incentivise swift and convenient (48 hour and advanced booking) access - the reward for this will be based on patient satisfaction measured through either a new national patient survey or modified practice surveys. • A 1.5 % National Investment Offer - this means that if the final pay uplift applied to the contract is less than 1.5%, the balance will be made available for investment through GMS. A decision on how any balance would be used will be made after we know the outcome of this year’s recommendations of the Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB). The GPC also polled its members on the Department of Health's alternative proposals. What do the proposed arrangements mean for PCTs?We firmly believe that NHS Employers’ offer supports PCTs in meeting their patients’ needs on access, and is fair to GPs and fair to the public purse. Access to primary care services is a key priority for the NHS and our offer supports PCTs in their discussions with practices about options to extend access. It rewards practices who choose to offer extended opening hours to their patients. Is it a fair offer, particularly following last year's decision for no uplift?We firmly believe that the proposed changes meet patients’ needs by improving access and are fair to the profession, and good value for taxpayers. GPs have seen significant increases in their earnings as a result of contract changes introduced in 2004 and 2005 and the DDRB recommendation of 0% uplift for 2007/08 took this into account. This offer retains existing investment in the contract, as well offering new investment.
Why does the offer seek more efficiencies - wasn't this covered in 06/07?All the parties involved in the contract changes for 2006/07 agreed that the changes addressed ’the perceived value for money issues associated with the original nGMS contract’ However, we also agreed that ‘improving value for money and efficiency will apply to future GMS negotiations as it applies to other NHS services‘ and it’s right that we should continue to re-visit this each year, in line with the rest of the NHS.
What changes did the Department of Health propose if a negotiated settlement was not possible?The Department of Health’s proposals included: • Developing a new improved GP patient survey that will capture patient views on a wide range of aspects of GP services, which would prevent the need for local patient surveys. PCTs would reinvest over £80m to reward GP practices on the basis of levels of patient satisfaction, as measured by the new survey. • PCTs and GP practices agreeing how to reinvest over £65m of indicators from the QOF that are considered to be out of date or duplicate other requirements. • Uprating the current QOF threshold payments so that practices are rewarded for delivering continuous improvements in patient services Last reviewed 10 Mar 2008 |
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