GPs call for investigation into out-of-hours funding
A GPs co-operative group is calling for an investigation into how out-of-hours care is being funded.
The National Association of GP Co-operatives (NAGPC) claims that many of its members are facing a 10 per cent shortfall in funding, and is calling on the National Audit Office to investigate.
Under the new GP contract, family doctors no longer have to provide out-of-hours services and the local Primary Care Trust have taken over responsibility for organising out-of-hours care.
About half of England is served by co-operatives of doctors and nurses who cover nights and weekends and these co-operatives claiming that they are suffering funding shortfalls of around 10 per cent a year.
NAGPC chairman Dr Mark Reynolds said: “It is important to remember we are providing a service of remarkably good value and if we can’t provide the cover, people will use accident and emergency departments and that will cost the health service more.”
Dr Michael Dixon, chairman of the NHS Alliance, which represents PCTs, said difficulties were to be expected following change, but insisted that the issue was being addressed.
Health Minister John Hutton, defended the system and told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The best way to tackle that problem and avoid that happening is to set national quality standards that all out-of-hours services have to comply with and that is precisely what we have done.”
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Paul Burstow said that the situation was caused by the Government’s “obsession with political targets”.
He said: “It is hardly surprising that some Primary Care Trusts are trying to get out-of-hours services on the cheap when political targets for other areas send a very clear message that this is not a Government priority. This is a classic example of why the Government’s obsession with political targets misses the point and lets patients down.
“The Health Select Committee warned that the new out-of-hours system was not being properly funded. It seems clear that the Government did not properly cost the implications of the new GP system. The National Audit Office should look into this extremely worrying situation.”
