By Alisdair Stirling
Scottish GPs could decide to break away from the UK GP contract at the Scottish LMCs conference next week.
Representatives will debate a motion on whether there should be a separate Scottish contract at their conference in Clydebank on 10 March.
A vote in favour could further fragment the picture over GP contracts, with confusion already rife over the view the Scottish and Welsh governments will take about the Doctors and Dentists Pay Review Body's recommendations for this year.
The Department of Health in England has already said it will not take submissions from the DDRB.
Scottish LMCs will also consider whether Scottish GPs should be able to commission services for their patients. This comes in the wake of decisions by the Scottish and Northern Irish governments to reassess their own health policies in light of the English health White Paper.
Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish cabinet secretary for health and wellbeing, will address the conference and take questions from representatives.
Discussions will take place at the Scottish LMCs conference
