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Ministers target GPs over hours Ministers target GPs over hours
(20 minutes later)
Health Secretary Alan Johnson is writing to every GP in England urging them to accept the government's plans for extended surgery opening hours.Health Secretary Alan Johnson is writing to every GP in England urging them to accept the government's plans for extended surgery opening hours.
He hopes to persuade them to back a deal on evening and weekend opening.He hopes to persuade them to back a deal on evening and weekend opening.
The government has said it will impose a settlement if agreement cannot be reached with the doctors' union, the British Medical Association.The government has said it will impose a settlement if agreement cannot be reached with the doctors' union, the British Medical Association.
The BMA said the real agenda was to privatise services and undermine traditional general practice.The BMA said the real agenda was to privatise services and undermine traditional general practice.
Relations between the government and the BMA have reached a new low.Relations between the government and the BMA have reached a new low.
The BMA has so far refused to sanction the deal, but ministers believe the union no longer speaks for the profession at large.The BMA has so far refused to sanction the deal, but ministers believe the union no longer speaks for the profession at large.
I think almost every GP in the country accepts that following the contract we are not open as much as we ought to be Michael DixonNHS AllianceI think almost every GP in the country accepts that following the contract we are not open as much as we ought to be Michael DixonNHS Alliance
The government wants to see a majority of GP practices offering extended hours and has made an offer that would see an average-sized practice with 6,000 patients open an extra three hours a week.The government wants to see a majority of GP practices offering extended hours and has made an offer that would see an average-sized practice with 6,000 patients open an extra three hours a week.
The BMA says doctors are prepared to work extra hours, but any deal should be flexible and should account for the extra costs of staying open longer.The BMA says doctors are prepared to work extra hours, but any deal should be flexible and should account for the extra costs of staying open longer.
Otherwise, it has argued, patients who come during the day would see services cut.Otherwise, it has argued, patients who come during the day would see services cut.
In the next few weeks, all GPs will get the chance to vote on the offer.In the next few weeks, all GPs will get the chance to vote on the offer.
The government has said that if they reject it, ministers will impose a tougher settlement in England.The government has said that if they reject it, ministers will impose a tougher settlement in England.
HAVE YOUR SAY Surely when you become a GP you realise that people are not just ill during office hours Adrian Mugridge, Chester Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Surely when you become a GP you realise that people are not just ill during office hours Adrian Mugridge, Chester Send us your comments
Health minister Ben Bradshaw said: "I think it stems on our part from a concern that the current leadership of the BMA don't really speak for the profession at large.Health minister Ben Bradshaw said: "I think it stems on our part from a concern that the current leadership of the BMA don't really speak for the profession at large.
"They've misrepresented the negotiations and they've misrepresented the offer that the government is making.""They've misrepresented the negotiations and they've misrepresented the offer that the government is making."
Its exasperation at the situation has prompted the government to go over the head of the BMA, with Mr Johnson writing a letter to every GP in England.Its exasperation at the situation has prompted the government to go over the head of the BMA, with Mr Johnson writing a letter to every GP in England.
InvestmentInvestment
In the letter, Mr Johnson insists the proposals "do not in any way reduce the substantial existing investment in these areas, and this sort of care is at the very heart of general practice".In the letter, Mr Johnson insists the proposals "do not in any way reduce the substantial existing investment in these areas, and this sort of care is at the very heart of general practice".
But Laurence Buckman, chairman of the BMA's GPs committee, said: "We think this argument over a few hours either way is really a softening up.But Laurence Buckman, chairman of the BMA's GPs committee, said: "We think this argument over a few hours either way is really a softening up.
"Patients are being prepared to view their GP as not very good and not very willing and not very flexible, and as a result to look kindly on the government's currently favoured model which is that patients should receive general practice from polyclinics.""Patients are being prepared to view their GP as not very good and not very willing and not very flexible, and as a result to look kindly on the government's currently favoured model which is that patients should receive general practice from polyclinics."
The BMA said this could herald the demise of traditional general practice - with its focus on continuity and quality of care.The BMA said this could herald the demise of traditional general practice - with its focus on continuity and quality of care.
It has sent out thousands of posters to practices, warning patients that the family doctor service is under threat.It has sent out thousands of posters to practices, warning patients that the family doctor service is under threat.
Dr Michael Dixon, from the NHS Alliance, which speaks for primary care professionals, said most GPs were anxious to see the issue resolved.Dr Michael Dixon, from the NHS Alliance, which speaks for primary care professionals, said most GPs were anxious to see the issue resolved.
"This makes us seem as somehow against the NHS, almost against our own patients, and that's not so."This makes us seem as somehow against the NHS, almost against our own patients, and that's not so.
"I think almost every GP in the country accepts that following the contract we are not open as much as we ought to be.""I think almost every GP in the country accepts that following the contract we are not open as much as we ought to be."
Andrew Lansley, the Shadow Health Secretary, said: "This is classic Labour and yet another admission of government failure to negotiate a contract with which GPs are happy and patients are satisfied."Andrew Lansley, the Shadow Health Secretary, said: "This is classic Labour and yet another admission of government failure to negotiate a contract with which GPs are happy and patients are satisfied."
Your comments
Extended opening hours are to be welcomed but something else needs to be done about accessibility to appointments. My GP has extended hours in on weekdays but is closed on thursday afternoons and at weekends. You have to make your appointment on the day you can come. To see a nurse to have a routine check on something like blood pressure you have to ring after 8 am on the day 'of your choice' i.e. on that day. She does not work on Mondays, she works mainly afternoons (apart from Thursday) and you cannot book in advance. The practice say that you can ring between 8 and 8.30 to book your appointment and they say they have four staff on the lines but in my experience it is impossible to get through in that time because all you get is the engaged tone. If you have to get to work by 8.30 you are at a disadvantage - all to get your BP checked by a health care worker because this is not a job the GP feels requires her attention. Catch 22. The reason for this system? It is their solution to the high level of missed appointments they had under the old book-in-advance system. I am new to this practice and have never had a missed appointment - mainly because it is so hard to make one in the first place!ursula dobraszczyc, stoke on trent staffordshire
The interview today with the resident doctor on BBC breakfast was the softest interview I have ever seen. I am a great fan on Sian but there was absolutely no proper interview of the resident doctor. The doctors ripped off the NHS and the public a few years ago and increased their wages disgracefully. It has gone up from £45,000 to between £100,000 and £120,000 in 10 years. I want GPs to be well paid but this is scandalous. I hope the government make the GPs do all the proposed extra work for no money whatsoever. In the last 10 years my wages and that of family and friends has either stayed the same or gone down. Well done to the Government RodRod Norris, Atherton, Lancashire
I think the idea of having the surgery open extra hours is very good. The government is taking a very good step towards improving the health care system in the UK, and contrary to what the head of BMA is saying, I think this move will make patients seek out private health care less. I find the BMA reaction and argument almost childish. I don`t understand how the BMA can they say that longer opening hours will demise traditional general practice. Doctors willing to work the extra hours will benefit from an extra pay I am sure, and patients like myself will benefit from having access to a doctor outside working hours. I need to take half a day off work whenever I need to see my doctor, it would have no doubt been much easier if the plan was implemented. shehnaz, barnet uk
Please be aware that the to provide more surgery hours to patients is not something that can be done free. It's not just the Drs time - its the receptionist, nurses, heating & security - not to mention the additional costs of employing those staff (NI, tax & pension payments) that have to be paid for. The government is using bully boy tactics saying "If you don't give us what we demand for nothing we will take away more of your money" All of this to provide routine (non-emergency care) for those who can't be sufficiently organised to find 10 minutes between 8am & 6:30pm. If it's their employers who find it inconvenient then I suggest those employers engage a GP privately! How may people would work more for less pay?Andrew Moltu, Narborough Leicestershire
The morality of the Government has hit a new low as they are ready to play politics with the health of the nation, arrogant, out of touch, and out of ideas.RS, Sheffield
This is NOT about money. this is about the government's wilful destruction of the traditional, personal, family Doctor service. Last year, the government's own survey showed that 84% of people were completely satisfied with their GP's opening hours, yet Gordon Brown personally still wants to push through an agenda that puts the likes of Richard Branson in charge of the NHS. If people really want what the government calls "choice", but what is in reality a move to supermarket surgeries where you will never see the same Doctor twice, then we GPs should accept the offer. I have been a GP for 20 years, and what I value, and what I believe my patients value most, is an enduring, personal relationship. Ask yourselves, who do you trust more, your own family Doctor, or a politician?Dr K, West Sussex
The problem with this debate, is that the government and DoH continues to mis-represent the views of patients. At the beginning of 2007, a national survey was undertaken and a very large sample of patients was asked their opinion on access to GPs. Of the 2.3 million patients who responded 84% were SATISFIED with GP opening hours. I heard it reported that at the recent Lord Darzi Review meeting, held on the 24th January at various venues across the UK, the one thing patients wanted more than anything was extended opening hours. This is NOT true. I was present at the Nottingham meeting on the 24th January and the public were NOT asked about extended GP opening hours. In fact, when asked to rate whether the NHS should "fit in with my life", this came out as the LEAST important. I am a GP but I am also a human being, I simply cannot work 24hours a day, 7 days a week. I can work an extra evening surgery a week, but this means cancelling a day time surgery. We are in danger of providing a wonderful service for healthy middle class commuters, while reducing the servce available to the sickest and most vulnerable members of society.Dr L, Lincolnshire
The government has very sneakily managed to turn public opinion against GPs with its divisive reports on so-called 'average' pay for a GP. They are probably one of the hardest working groups of people in the country, where a normal working day is 11 hours plus home visits on top of that. My wife is a GP and earns probably around half the figure quoted as being 'average'. The public probably don't realise that GPs have to manage a business as well as their clinical work and have all the complications of employing staff, paying for buildings etc. Don't be surprised if you start seeing GPs reluctantly moving out of the NHS like Dentists did after the government of the time forced them into an impossible situation. How many other professions received an effective pay cut this last year? Don't believe the hype. The BMA are the only people who are actually representing the GPs interests and feelings on this and should continue their stance!Chris, Bristol, UK