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Despite the DoH announcing this week a 2.7 per cent increase in global sum funding, the majority of practices will see no rise.

This is because income for the 90 per cent of practices with MPIGs has been frozen. 

BMA chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum described it as a ‘further slap in the face for GPs'.

Originally, the correction factor ‘floated' above global sum increases, and when the global sum rose, the correction factor was unchanged, allowing the MPIG to increase. 

However, this year's recommendation by the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body (DDRB) states that the contract was revised in 2006/7 to allow the correction factor to be reduced.

This means the MPIG will remain the same and the difference between the two will simply grow smaller. 

Because only a small number of practices will benefit from the 2.7 per cent rise, the DDRB calculates that expenditure will rise by just 0.2 per cent.

The remaining 1.3 per cent promised in England and Scotland, and possibly Wales, will be used to fund enhanced services in clinical areas.

tom.ireland@haymarket.com

Review Body report

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