The BMA has warned that the Government’s planned contract changes from April in England will place an ‘enormous strain’ on practices and reduce the chance of adequate engagement and input from GPs into CCGs.
Their survey of 8,000 GPs found 97% of those with some awareness of the contract changes saying they believed that general practice would become more stressful for them as a result of the contract changes, and that 91% saying they felt they would be less able to manage their workload.
In its official response to the Government’s planned contract changes for GPs in England for 2013/14, the BMA also said that the additional workload from the contract changes would mean that GPs were less able to lead or support their local CCG, with half of those who expected their practice to make changes as a result of the imposition, expecting to reduce their involvement with their CCG.
The submission says: ‘GPs are going to be forced to look carefully at their work and to prioritise their commitments and services. In particular the increasing pressure on GPs within their practices will leave less time for development of fledgling CCGs.
‘As advocates of clinically led commissioning, we are very concerned about this, and disappointed that the changes to the contract will reduce the chance of adequate engagement and input from general practice.’
