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BMA explains why it gave up GP primary care monopoly

25-Jul-08

Allowing alternative providers into general practice was inevitable, BMA Council chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum has said.

Speaking to the BMA’s GPs-to-be conference yesterday, Dr Meldrum explained his decision to give up the GP monopoly on primary care when negotiating the new contract.

Diversity of providers was ‘something that was happening anyway’, he said.

He added that it was necessary if GPs were to have greater control of their workload. ‘If we’re able to say no, then somebody else has got to be able to say yes,’ he said.

Dr Meldrum also criticised the ‘knee-jerk negativity’ with which GPs often greet government policy.

‘Don't be put off by older, disillusioned GPs,’ he told the younger doctors.

jonn.elledge@haymarket.com

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Comments

JOHN PIKE

25/07/2008

Is it any wonder that the older GPs feel disillusioned after 3 zero percent pay awards, annual unilateral changes by HMG to a contract which they agreed to in good faith, the endless bureaucracy and the daily criticism of them by HMG and the media?

Maybe younger GPs shouldn't be put off by all this; after all, British General Practice is still the envy of the world, but it would be as well if younger GPs were fully aware of how serious the situation is at present.

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