Opinion

Medicine has always been a career based on strength, Dr Jenny Wenman writes, but facing down the commissioning challenge GPs need more than ever to admit they are vulnerable too

Having CCGs performance manage practices will only alienate GPs, says Dr Michelle Drage

It’s important for CCGs to have oversight over local practices, argues Dr Charles Alessi

Forget the negativity - our CCG has transformed mental health services, says Dr John Orchard.

A big, pink ‘Breastlight’ is one of a number of private tests being marketed to an unsuspecting public, warns Margaret McCartney.

GPs face a once-in-a-generation choice over whether to support industrial action on pensions. BMA chair Dr Hamish Meldrum urges all to have their say

GP prescribing should be determined by evidence, not commercial interests, writes Dr Bill Beeby

As GPs we see women who have miscarried all too often, writes Dr Ursula Oetiker, and while we can’t always help directly we’re in a position to put them in touch with groups who can.

Dr Barry Lewis reports back from the development of a new four-year model of GP training.

Giving girls the Pill over the counter isn’t the scandal here, writes Dr Fiona Cornish, it’s the fact that GPs haven’t given pharmacists that opportunity before.

Judith Smith looks at non-UK commissioners' experience of balancing patient and population health needs.

NICE does some superb work when it comes to recognising excellence in medicines, writes Dr Donal Hynes, but complying with its guidance must not become a tick-box assessment for local commissioning groups.

The kidney tsar thinks it’s unethical not to give patients their exact diagnosis – but Margaret McCartney wonders what the benefits are in a label.

Dr Krishna Korlipara started one of the first GP co-operatives for out-of-hours care, and argues they represent a far better model than failing out-of-hours companies.

Peer and former GP Dame Fiona Caldicott's new review of confidentiality will get to the heart of an ethics question that has dogged the profession for years

The Government has prioritised homeless care, writes Steve Shrubb, but have GP commissioners done the same?

Working to 68 is unfair and unnecessary, writes Dr Kailash Chand, and Pulse’s campaign pledges to argue the case

It simply isn’t ethical to continue to ignore the hazards of breast screening, says Margaret McCartney.

Ministerial bloody-mindedness has seen GP premises upgrades grind to a halt, threatening the Government’s own reforms, writes GPC negotiator Dr Peter Holden

Too often young GPs only get to experience city-centre practices – but rural practice offers generalism at its most exciting, write Dr David Hogg and Dr Chris Williams

Mencap research found that poor care for patients with learning disabilities can be fatal, Dr Tom Howsemann writes, and GPs and commissioners have a direct responsibility to improve it

Selling alcohol without a minimum price is like driving with no speed limit, says Dr Carsten Grimm

They’re little-known and little-understood, but social enterprises can help GP commissioners keep private profits out of public healthcare, writes Ceri Jones.

Chair of the now-disbarred Red House CCG, Kenneth Spooner laments the loss of the UK's last small clinical commissioning group.

It seems ridiculous to question something as basic as CPR, but what if it could actually be doing patients harm?

The health secretary’s bill has finally gone through, but the problems for the NHS are just beginning, writes Diane Abbott

The new 300-page document from the Law Commission is full of vagueries, writes Dr Jane Lockhart, and threatens to open the floodgates to a wave of litigation.

Dr Louise Warburton, a GPSI in MSK medicine, argues that the decision to ration knee surgery is a poor approach to population healthcare, given our aversion to exercise and healthy eating

Following their article on how the US healthcare model has influenced NHS reform, Professor Malone and Dr Supri turn to the French system for a new approach

The Government has ridden roughshod over GP concerns, and has allowed no time to learn from pilots, writes Dr Laurence Buckman

After a dark period for general practice, the horizon is getting just a little bit brighter.

Working in a malaria clinic in Uganda brought it home to me just how radically bed nets could change child health there, writes Dr Neil Fletcher.