BMA report acknowledges mistakes in GP contract amendments scrutiny

Exclusive The BMA has acknowledged ‘confusion and anger’ among GPs, following concerns that GMS contract amendments around access were not properly scrutinised by GP leaders.

Pulse understands that a report read out at a BMA GP committee meeting yesterday acknowledged the union ‘needs to take steps to improve its internal processes’.

It comes after Pulse earlier this year revealed that amended GMS regulations were received by the BMA from the Department of Health and Social Care in April but that they were not shared with the relevant policy group.

At the time, GPC chair Dr Katie Bramall said that a ‘significant event audit’ was underway to understand the reasons behind the mistake.

The verbal report said: ‘There was some confusion in the email communications between elected members and staff during that time period between the draft amendments being received on the 9 of April and the deadline for comments on the 25 of April and this meant that the amendments were not posted to the contracts list server.’

The report also added that the current staff structure supporting GPC is ‘not sustainable to deliver what is required’.

It added: ‘While the number of staff working on GP issues has not changed, their proximity to the committee has, and this has had negative consequences due to the nature of GMS contract negotiations.’

The report pointed out that no document including ‘comparative’ track changes has been produced, and added: ‘There is clear confusion and anger among GPs about the regulatory amendment and its implications and the BMA needed to take steps to improve its internal processes.’

Any significant amendment should be highlighted by the staff team member responsible for contracts and regulations, and also reviewed by the legal team before being shared with elected officers and GPC executive, according to the report.

And there should be ‘clarity’ on the expectation of the roles, as well as responsibilities relating to sign off process ‘that are clear from the outset of their role’.

The report added: ‘There is an expectation that the chair sign off signifies a strong degree of trust that processes have been followed.’

Announcing changes to the GP contract in February, NHS England told GP practices they would need to keep their online consultation tool open throughout core hours for appointment requests, medication queries and admin requests from October.

But a contract variation notice published in August appeared to go further in stating that practices ‘must take steps to ensure that all of the following means of contacting’ the practice ‘are available for patients throughout core hours’, including: