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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Ministers pressure GPs over hours | Ministers pressure GPs over hours |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The government has stepped up the pressure on GPs to work in the evenings and at weekends. | The government has stepped up the pressure on GPs to work in the evenings and at weekends. |
| Ministers have warned they will push through a tougher deal if GPs do not agree to an extra three hours a week. | Ministers have warned they will push through a tougher deal if GPs do not agree to an extra three hours a week. |
| Doctors are willing to open for longer, but disagree over how long it should be for and the penalties for not doing so. | Doctors are willing to open for longer, but disagree over how long it should be for and the penalties for not doing so. |
| Gordon Brown has made extending GP hours a priority, although a survey of 2m patients earlier this year showed 84% were happy with opening. | Gordon Brown has made extending GP hours a priority, although a survey of 2m patients earlier this year showed 84% were happy with opening. |
| The government said if doctors reject the offer in a poll to be carried out in the new year, it is prepared to impose tougher terms. | The government said if doctors reject the offer in a poll to be carried out in the new year, it is prepared to impose tougher terms. |
| It would take out a hundred million pounds of extra funding, and reallocating a further three hundred million from within the existing GP contract to local primary care trusts, to spend as they see fit. | It would take out a hundred million pounds of extra funding, and reallocating a further three hundred million from within the existing GP contract to local primary care trusts, to spend as they see fit. |
| We believe the government's method of negotiation is nothing short of a disgrace Dr Laurence Buckman, of the British Medical Association | We believe the government's method of negotiation is nothing short of a disgrace Dr Laurence Buckman, of the British Medical Association |
| It comes after GPs have seen their pay rocket by 30% to £110,000 a year in the first two years of their new contract which started in 2004. | It comes after GPs have seen their pay rocket by 30% to £110,000 a year in the first two years of their new contract which started in 2004. |
| The British Medical Association, the doctors' trade union, has said it is happy to do extended hours without any extra money, but only wants to offer two extra hours a week for every 6,000 patients. | The British Medical Association, the doctors' trade union, has said it is happy to do extended hours without any extra money, but only wants to offer two extra hours a week for every 6,000 patients. |
| The average GP has a list of 2,000 patients meaning doctors would only need to do an extra 40 minutes. | The average GP has a list of 2,000 patients meaning doctors would only need to do an extra 40 minutes. |
| The government, however, wants to see three extra hours for every 6,000 patients. | The government, however, wants to see three extra hours for every 6,000 patients. |
| Officials also said the profession has been offered £100m to do this - something the BMA has disputed. | Officials also said the profession has been offered £100m to do this - something the BMA has disputed. |
| And crucially the BMA does not want the system structured in such a way that they would lose as much funds if they did not provide the extra hours. | And crucially the BMA does not want the system structured in such a way that they would lose as much funds if they did not provide the extra hours. |
| There is also believed to be disagreement over how the extra hours should be provided, with the government wanting it to be done in 90-minute blocks whereas doctors want to be free to decide how it is done. | There is also believed to be disagreement over how the extra hours should be provided, with the government wanting it to be done in 90-minute blocks whereas doctors want to be free to decide how it is done. |
| Ministers can push the proposals through without the agreement of doctors as long as they consult for 13 weeks. | Ministers can push the proposals through without the agreement of doctors as long as they consult for 13 weeks. |
| 'Disgrace' | 'Disgrace' |
| Dr Laurence Buckman, of the BMA's GP committee, said: "We believe the government's method of negotiation is nothing short of a disgrace. | Dr Laurence Buckman, of the BMA's GP committee, said: "We believe the government's method of negotiation is nothing short of a disgrace. |
| "They have effectively put a gun to our head and said if we don't accept their proposal they will impose a more draconian contract. | "They have effectively put a gun to our head and said if we don't accept their proposal they will impose a more draconian contract. |
| "The vast majority of our patients, and in particular those with chronic diseases or mothers with young children, prefer to come to surgeries during the day. | "The vast majority of our patients, and in particular those with chronic diseases or mothers with young children, prefer to come to surgeries during the day. |
| "They will be the ones who lose out if GPs are forced to work differently." | "They will be the ones who lose out if GPs are forced to work differently." |
| Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said the proposals would provide greater convenience for patients and were a good deal for GPs. | |
| "It is disappointing that the BMA have not been able to agree to this, but we very much hope GPs themselves will back a proposal. | |
| "If they do not, we will need to have alternative arrangements in place for next April." |