Must review GPs’ contracts

Sir, - The NHS needs a lateral thinker to reorganise it from the ground up.

GPs should be practising within NHS hospitals and work the 24/7 rota expected of the rest of its employees.

There should be no additional distractions, such as becoming advisers or taking on teaching roles.

GPs salaries are enormous and give them a very good lifestyle.

They don’t need extra revenue – it is driven by greed and selfimportance.

Even if they take on additional work which is voluntary, it is still too much of a burden.

The GPs in the practice I attend seem to work part time only so it seems to me that they are overpaid, enabling them to enjoy outside professional activities resulting in plenty of GPs but insufficient GP hours.

We need not more doctors’ surgeries, rather replacement medical centres manned by nurse practitioners and care teams.

Financially this would be amazing and for patients there would be the provision of an outstanding service.

Many more nurse practitioners could be employed for the same cost of one GP, with efficiency stepped up and referral times shortened considerably.

GPs only seem to triage. They take no responsibility because they refer to another.

Meanwhile, any medical procedures are abdicated to the nurse practitioners, so what is the responsibility or indeed liability of a GP?

How often do GPs have to update their skills – is it mandatory or voluntary?

I understand nurse practitioners have to and want to update their skills regularly.

I would much rather see someone medically whose skills are current and who wants to know more.

GPs are expensive and their contracts absolutely need to be reviewed.

I don’t know how many billions are wasted supporting them in their business arrangements.

Seemingly they run practices as businesses with NHS grants.

My view of businesses is that it always come down to the bottom line, profit.

Is there a danger that profit is being considered over patients?

There are good and

honourable GPs, no question, and these GPs could work within a hospital environment with no detriment to their careers.

There would be more observation from fellow workers and patients, and more accountability.

They could actually use their skills and their energy to be a doctor and not a profit generator.

We all need to wake up and think about what our GPs really offer us. Georgina Spiers. Fernhill, Bridge of Cally.