The British Medical Association (BMA) has written to the Department of Health (DH) seeking assurance that the provision of support for GPs and NHS staff suffering from stress and burnout will continue, amid reports that occupational health services are about to be cut. Continue reading
Despite being warned last month that practices closing early over the Christmas holidays could face problems, a number of practices have done so and some have now been issued with breach of contract notices from NHS England. Continue reading
According to the Head of Primary Care at NHS England, Dr David Geddes,the ongoing problems with payments to GP practices will be resolved by next April at the very latest. Continue reading
According to the Chair of the British Dental Association’s (BDA) General Dental Practice Committee, the new contractual arrangements must work for dentists and patients alike. Continue reading
As NHS England appears to be dragging its heels on mitigating the effects on GP practices that depend heavily on minimum income payments, many are making plans to cut staff or reduce GP hours, as they have no idea where talks might go on the matter. Continue reading
An independent think tank has suggested that patients should pay £10 for appointments with their GP, with the funds raised being put towards opening at weekends. Continue reading
The new contract deal for GPs will see practices receiving around 40 per cent less next year but will increase the value of the global sum, create a new emergency admissions DES and oblige GPs to publish their net pay. Continue reading
Despite saying recently that cuts to the minimum practice income guarantee (MPIG) were out of MPs’ hands, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has encouraged campaigners by accepting that rural practices could be detrimentally affected by the withdrawal of MPIG top-ups to core pay. Continue reading
GP practices have been threatened with breach of contract notices if they fail to open from 8am to 6.30pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and they have also been told that they may not sub-contract the services during these periods. Continue reading
NHS England has announced that it will begin the procurement process for a ‘significant number’ of alternative private medical services (APMS) contracts in the new year, and has already begun moves to promote the contracts with private healthcare providers. Continue reading