BMA Says Government Values Targets Over Improving Patient Care
Since October the GPC and NHS Employers have been involved in detailed negotiations aimed at coming to a UK-wide agreement on extending opening hours in the evenings and at weekends. No new money to resource longer hours - for example to pay for nurses and practice staff - is being offered but existing money would be recycled. GP representatives today said they would seek the opinion of the UK's family doctors on the terms of the government's proposal.
Dr Laurence Buckman, Chairman of the BMA's GP Committee said:
"We have done our utmost to come to a deal which would improve access for the minority of patients who are unhappy with the current arrangements, while at the same time trying to ensure it would not be at the expense of our most vulnerable patients, and by that I mean the elderly, the long-term sick and the very young.
"We believe the government's method of negotiation is nothing short of a disgrace. They have effectively put a gun to our head and said if we don't accept their proposal they will impose a more draconian contract. The vast majority of our patients, and in particular those with chronic diseases or mothers with young children, prefer to come to surgeries during the day. They will be the ones who lose out if GPs are forced to work differently.
"The proposal from the Department of Health shows little understanding of how general practice works. The BMA's proposal would have seen an average practice of six thousand patients provide an extra two hours of surgery time, the equivalent of an extra evening or Saturday morning. But through improvements to the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) it would also have encouraged practices to focus on improving care for patients with heart failure and osteoporosis, leading to an improved quality of life for elderly patients.
"We are disappointed and angry that the government is not listening to GPs. As family doctors we understand the needs of patients which is why the government gave us the vital role of commissioning healthcare. But on something as important as this they refuse to listen to us. We are being bullied so that the Prime Minister can tick a box next to a politically driven target without regard for the damage this could do in the long-term to patient services in primary care.
"We will offer to keep on negotiating with government while we seek the views of family doctors throughout the UK. We hope that the government will take up this offer and listen to us rather than force GPs to work in a way that reduces care for the majority."
The wording of the motion agreed by GPC is as follows:
The GPC does not accept the government's current contract proposals. We will seek the opinion of the GPs of the UK.
We utterly reject the method of negotiating that uses gun-barrel consultation by threatening the imposition of more draconian measures on the profession'.
http://www.bma.org.uk
BMA spune Guvernul Valori Þinte Peste Îmbunãtãþirea îngrijirea pacientului - BMA Says Government Values Targets Over Improving Patient Care - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate