Contract to sweeten deal for GP partners
GP PARTNERS will be guaranteed a minimum income of £80,430 a year and have their workload slashed in a groundbreaking contract.
The deal proposed by doctors’ union the BMA and the Scottish Government will mean patients should find it easier to get GP appointments.
But in less urgent cases other members of an extended community health team will be the first port of call.
A recent Royal College of General Practitioners report raised fears that this approach may damage the relationships GPs build up with patients.
But Alan McDevitt, Scottish GP chairman of the BMA, insisted: “GPs will be leading the teams and will continue to watch what’s happening to their patients.”
The proposals will mean repeat prescriptions, which can account for 20 per cent of a doctor’s day, will now be managed by pharmacists.
Blood pressure checks and removal of stitches will be carried out by nurses and other services will be taken on by physiotherapists, community mental health workers and paramedics.
It is anticipated the changes will make general practice more attractive to medical students and help plug the recruitment and retention gap.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said yesterday: “GPs tell us they want to spend more time with patients with undiagnosed illnesses and less time on bureaucracy, while patients say they want better access to GPs when they really need them. I believe we have achieved that balance.”
GPs will start voting on the contract next month.