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DoH to change GP contract to cut correction factors

18-Jul-08

The DoH will change the contract to allow correction factors to be cut legally, the GPC announced yesterday.

The DoH is required to launch a consultation before it unilaterally changes the contract, which the BMA is responding to.

GPC negotiators say the DoH has acknowledged that the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body’s recommendation to cut correction factors is illegal, so is now consulting on how to implement it legally.

The cuts to correction factors mean despite a 2.7 per cent increase to the global sum, all practices on MPIG will effectively receive nothing.

GPC deputy chairman Dr Richard Vautrey said this would mean changing the statement of financial entitlement (SFE) annex of the contract.

‘We will be challenging this in our response which is currently in the hands of our lawyers,’ he said.

GPC chairman Dr Laurence Buckman said after the consultation, a set of instructions will be sent to parliament and practices and legislative changes will be made.

The GPC’s only victory has been that changes will not be back-dated to April, but will come into force when the consultation concludes.

A DoH spokesman said the consultation would close in September. A decision will be taken then based on the comment received.

tom.ireland@haymarket.com

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