A huge 98 per cent of the 76 per cent turnout of junior doctors voted last week for strike action over changes to their pay and working hours. However, many have said they would prefer to negotiate than take action, but only if the Health Secretary is prepared to meet them.
Concerned about the number of GPs who are leaving the profession or taking early retirement – meaning that the number of trained doctors is at a dangerously low level – the Department of Health (DH) has announced it is considering setting GPs’ pay uplift for the next tax year according to where they practice.
A consultation document released last week suggests that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) could increase its annual fees for GP inspections by more than 550 per cent within two years, meaning a hike of £15,000 for some practices. Continue reading
Recent research has revealed that more than 80 per cent of GPs plan to quit the profession altogether, take a career break or reduce the number of hours they work over the next five years, with only 6 per cent saying they planned to increase their hours. Continue reading
According to a recent survey, GPs are leaving full-time work in practices to become locums, as there is little financial incentive for them to stay in permanent jobs. As a result, there is concern for patients, who may lack continuity of care. Continue reading
Although the General Practitioners’ Committee (GPC) has criticised the new voluntary contract for GPs, describing is as a “distraction’, local GP leaders have given plans to introduce a new contract for larger practices a tentative thumbs-up. Continue reading
The General Practitioners’ Committee (GPC) is warning practices not to sign a new version of the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, as NHS England has admitted that an ‘erroneous’ contract has been sent to some GPs, which would make it impossible for them to take legal action against their local area team. Continue reading
The new GP contract will include a seven day access requirement for patients of both practices and hospitals, according to Prime Minister David Cameron, who was speaking on the Andrew Marr Show at the weekend. Continue reading
Earlier this month, UK start-up bank Mondo ran a two-day debut ‘hackathon’ centred on an early iteration of its Application Programme Interface (API). The new bank operates via a mobile app that is designed around the needs of the customer and not systems created by traditional banks. Continue reading
As of last month, GPs must have professional indemnity insurance to protect them in case they are sued. This follows a European Union directive that guarantees patients from one EU state who seek treatment in another have access to redress if something goes wrong. Continue reading