GPs to meet over contract rejection
Doctors are to hold a meeting later today to consider calls for a proposed new contract to be torn up.
The British Medical Association and the Government reached a deal on the new contract earlier this year, and both declared it good for GP’s and patients.
However, although the contract should mean greater funding of services, better pay for GP’s and a smaller workload, practitioners have reacted badly to the contract amid concerns that some will lose out.
The BMA is today holding a special meeting for hundreds of doctors from across the country, after a reassurance that no practice would lose money through the deal failed to stem confusion, which led to the cancellation of the ballot planned for March.
Many doctors are reported to be still dissatisfied with the contract and may use the meeting to call on the BMA to restart negotiations, and possibly to call for resignations from negotiators involved.
One sticking point is over a formula for funding designed to ensure practices in poorer areas, and with heavier workloads, receive more money.
Some doctors have expressed concern that the measure will not prove effective and fails to take into account the different factors faced by practices in some poorer areas.
