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| GP pay £110,000 after a 10% rise | GP pay £110,000 after a 10% rise |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Average family doctor pay in the UK rose by 10% to £110,000 in 12 months, according to latest figures. | Average family doctor pay in the UK rose by 10% to £110,000 in 12 months, according to latest figures. |
| The data from the NHS Information Centre is for the 2005-6 - the second year of the new GP contract. | The data from the NHS Information Centre is for the 2005-6 - the second year of the new GP contract. |
| It comes after pay rose by 20% in the first year and means GPs have seen pay rise by about £30,000 in two years. | It comes after pay rose by 20% in the first year and means GPs have seen pay rise by about £30,000 in two years. |
| The deal also allowed GPs to opt out of weekend and evening care, which critics say has suffered after private firms and groups of medics were taken on. | The deal also allowed GPs to opt out of weekend and evening care, which critics say has suffered after private firms and groups of medics were taken on. |
| But Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the British Medical Association's GPs committee, defended the rises and said family doctors deserved to be paid well. | But Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the British Medical Association's GPs committee, defended the rises and said family doctors deserved to be paid well. |
| We are taking action to tie GP income more closely to patient experiences Ben Bradshaw, health minister | We are taking action to tie GP income more closely to patient experiences Ben Bradshaw, health minister |
| He said: "The job is enjoyable because of our dealing with patients. No business is worth what we do. | He said: "The job is enjoyable because of our dealing with patients. No business is worth what we do. |
| "Most of the increase in GP pay in recent years has come from the extra resources that GPs earn if they offer higher quality patient care. | "Most of the increase in GP pay in recent years has come from the extra resources that GPs earn if they offer higher quality patient care. |
| "The outcome from this raised quality is a better standard of health for our patients." | "The outcome from this raised quality is a better standard of health for our patients." |
| Nonetheless, the combination of pay rises and out-of-hours care has meant both the government - for agreeing the deal - and doctors - for making the most of it - have come under heavy attack in recent years. | Nonetheless, the combination of pay rises and out-of-hours care has meant both the government - for agreeing the deal - and doctors - for making the most of it - have come under heavy attack in recent years. |
| The pay rises have been fingered for contributing to the deficits with which the health service has been struggling. | The pay rises have been fingered for contributing to the deficits with which the health service has been struggling. |
| Complaints | Complaints |
| And many patients have said they are unhappy with the new out-of-hours arrangements with the number of complaints soaring as a result. | And many patients have said they are unhappy with the new out-of-hours arrangements with the number of complaints soaring as a result. |
| The GP contract overhauled the way doctors were paid. | The GP contract overhauled the way doctors were paid. |
| About two thirds of their pay is effectively made up by a basic salary with the rest being paid dependent on performance in carrying out a range of services such as vaccinations and blood pressure monitoring. | About two thirds of their pay is effectively made up by a basic salary with the rest being paid dependent on performance in carrying out a range of services such as vaccinations and blood pressure monitoring. |
| Health Minister Ben Bradshaw maintained care had improved and said it was right GPs were rewarded for that. | Health Minister Ben Bradshaw maintained care had improved and said it was right GPs were rewarded for that. |
| There is a feeling that compared with hospital doctors, GPs have too big a share of the financial pie Roger Goss, of Patient Concern | There is a feeling that compared with hospital doctors, GPs have too big a share of the financial pie Roger Goss, of Patient Concern |
| But he also said he wanted to see doctors adopt more flexible opening hours - in the past few months the government has been telling GPs it wants to see more evening and weekend clinics. | But he also said he wanted to see doctors adopt more flexible opening hours - in the past few months the government has been telling GPs it wants to see more evening and weekend clinics. |
| "We will be working with GPs to ensure that at least 50% of practices extend their opening hours and we are taking action to tie GP income more closely to patient experiences." | "We will be working with GPs to ensure that at least 50% of practices extend their opening hours and we are taking action to tie GP income more closely to patient experiences." |
| Roger Goss, of Patient Concern, said: "As a result of the contract we have shorter opening hours and a poorer out-of-hours service. | Roger Goss, of Patient Concern, said: "As a result of the contract we have shorter opening hours and a poorer out-of-hours service. |
| "Quality of care is more important to patients than pay, but there is a feeling that compared with hospital doctors, GPs have too big a share of the financial pie." | "Quality of care is more important to patients than pay, but there is a feeling that compared with hospital doctors, GPs have too big a share of the financial pie." |
| Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said it was right GPs were well paid, but added they should be given more responsibility for controlling local budgets - currently the responsibility of primary care trusts. | |
| "They are being treated, by this government, like well-paid production line employees." | |
| The figures, which cover GP partners who run the practices rather than those employed on a salary, also show disparity when broken down by country. | The figures, which cover GP partners who run the practices rather than those employed on a salary, also show disparity when broken down by country. |
| GPs in England earned an average of £113,600, compared to £102,200 in Wales, £98,700 in Northern Ireland and £90,600 in Scotland. Doctors said this was linked to patient list sizes. | GPs in England earned an average of £113,600, compared to £102,200 in Wales, £98,700 in Northern Ireland and £90,600 in Scotland. Doctors said this was linked to patient list sizes. |
| Many predict GP pay will not rise greatly in the next two years after the basic pay was frozen in 2006-7 and 2007-8. However, it is still possible the performance-related element may cause an increase. | Many predict GP pay will not rise greatly in the next two years after the basic pay was frozen in 2006-7 and 2007-8. However, it is still possible the performance-related element may cause an increase. |