The future of general practice - the Government's response
The Health and Social Care Committee (HSCSC) published its report on the Future of General Practice in October last year, and the Government has now published its response.
Overall, the Government 'partially accepts' many of the recommendations, highlighting the primary care recovery plan as evidence of how it is planning to tackle the crisis in general practice. One recommendation that is fully accepted is to "identify mechanisms to distribute GP trainees more equitably across the country so that under-doctored areas receive a balanced proportion of domestic and international GP trainees".
The recommendation about upskilling receptionist is also supported - and, again, linked to the primary care recovery plan. Recommendation about the ARRS (Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme) are also partially accepted, aiming to bring more flexibility to general practice and primary care networks.
The Government supports the introduction of e-prescribing in hospitals and several other technology-based recommendations.
There is less agreement when the report turns to staffing issues. Although the Government recognises the importance of retention, it puts the onus on contractors and the BMA to solve that. The same approach is taken with a recommendation about preventing a bidding war for locums and dealing with the administrative burden.
The Government is also less supportive of the recommendations relating to continuity of care. It recognises the importance of continuity but not the specific proposals in the committee's report, particularly the ones relating to the personal list model where patients have a specific GP, including a proposal to reduce the ratio of patients to GPs.
A recommendation about "simplifying the patient interface with the NHS" is supported, again drawing on the primary care recovery plan. Rather than abolish Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) and Impact and Investment Fund (IIF), the Government commits to consulting on these. The Government also supports a better focus on outcomes data rather than processes, and partially supports better sharing the benefits of reducing secondary care costs.
The final recommendation relate to the GP partnership model are partially accepted, including actions to reduce the risks that GPs are exposed to.
Although the overall tone is supportive, the issue of continuity of care is one that is likely to be important to many people. Much of the responses is based on activity already undertaken, and some future activity is based on consultation on further consideration.
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