BMA and Scottish Government agree changes to GP contract
The BMA's Scottish GP Committee has reached agreement over changes to the GMS (GP) contract in Scotland for 2013-2014.
We have produced further details of the agreement (issued on 21 December):
Read the details in PDF format
Read the details as a web page
Background
The Scottish talks followed a UK Government decision to halt UK-level negotiations and to impose changes to the UK GP contract.
The alternative arrangements in Scotland have been agreed within the framework of the UK GP contract.
The changes for Scottish GPs for 2013-2014 aim to:
- Deliver clinical benefits to patients
- Focus primary care resources on the most vulnerable patients in the community
- Provide greater stability of funding for GP practices
- Address some GP practice workload concerns
- Support and value the work of the wider primary healthcare team based around the GP practice
Key elements of the deal include:
- A substantial portion of points’ achievement from the QOF organisational domain transferred to the core funding element of the contract
- Anticipatory Care Planning activity to replace QP QOF indicators on A&E and emergency pathways
- Agreement in Scotland that variation in funding between GP practices will be explored
- Substantial amelioration of the workload implications of the introduction of NICE changes to clinical QOF
In a letter to all GPs in Scotland, Scottish GPC chair, Alan McDevitt also acknowledged that the Scottish Government has expressed ongoing commitment to the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body (DDRB) process.
Download Dr McDevitt's letter to Scottish GPs, 6 December (PDF)
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