This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Executive welcome for new GP contracts
21/02/2003
Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm today welcomed the
announcement of a new contract for general medical services
delivered by GP practices.
The contract has been agreed between the BMA's General
Medical Practitioners' Committee and the NHS Confederation
on behalf of all four UK countries. It will now be subject
to a ballot of all GPs in the UK.
Mr Chisholm said:
"This contract is good news for patients and heralds an
exciting new era for primary care services across
Scotland.
"If accepted, it will be accompanied by substantial
additional resources for the development of primary care
services.
"As part of the deal, payments to GP practices will for
the first time be tied to the quality of care they provide
to patients. The contract will also link investment to the
specific health needs of local communities and practice
populations, rather than simple payments for services and
allowances to doctors.
"It encourages the development of team work by all
primary care staff including nurses and other health
professionals making full use of their skills. There will
be much more scope for providing high quality care in local
GP practices which hitherto has only been available at
hospital.
"I am pleased that many of the proposals build on the
highly innovative work which I have seen already up and
running in forward-looking practices around Scotland.
"I would like to congratulate all of those who have been
involved in creating this new contract. I hope that once
they have had the chance to study the proposals GPs will
share my belief that the negotiators have done an excellent
job.
"It is a good deal for patients and a good deal for all
those working in the primary care team. Family doctors can
be assured that, should they accept the deal, I am
committed to ensuring that the necessary resources are
available to facilitate effective implementation across
Scotland."
The contract follows on from the framework document
published in April 2002. Over the next few weeks, the NHS
Confederation and GPC will hold a series of roadshows
across to explain the details of the contract. This will be
followed by a ballot of GPs on whether or not they wish to
accept it or not.
If the ballot results on a yes vote, the contract will
be phased in from April 2003. Elements of the new contract
require changes to legislation. These parts of the contract
will not be introduced before April 2004.