Deal is positive for insurer/GP relations and patient care, says ABI
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has welcomed a new funding deal for doctors in general practice, which puts no restrictions on their private income.
The British Medical Assoc-iation (BMA) and the Govern-ment have brokered a deal where spending on general practice will rise by 33% over the next three years, totalling £8bn by 2006.
Richard Walsh, head of health at the ABI, said: 'It is still early to say in terms of the new funding affecting the day-to-day activity of GPs, but there are no restrictions on their private activity. This became an issue recently with hospital consul-tants, who turned down a 21% pay deal due to Government interference in their private work.'
In future, practices with the sickest patients will get most money and money will be allocated per practice rather than per GP. Practices will be able to apply for extra money to fund more specialist services in primary care. The new deal would lead to a substantial pay increase for GPs.
Walsh also believes the changes will be positive for insurers' relations with GPs, speeding up insurance applic-ations.
'Insurers are going to find it easier to deal with GP practices, as the new pay deal will mean doctors will have agreed practice-wide procedures. Hope-ully things will become more consistent,' he said.
GPs will vote in March on whether to accept the new contract. There is no guarantee they will back the deal. BMA negotiators have said they will not recommend the deal to doctors, but ask them to make up their own minds.
Dr John Chisholm, chairman of the BMA's GPs committee, said: 'This new contract, if accepted by family doctors, promises huge and historic extra resources for patient care and a major boost to GP earnings through rewards for the delivery of high quality care to patients.'
