The GPC has issued its first position statement on GP commissioning.
The paper 'The principles of GP commissioning' argues GP consortiums must be given adequate resources in order to fulfil the Government's commissioning agenda, including sufficient cover at their practices to maintain levels of access, the GPC has said.
And it calls for consortiums to be ‘democratically accountable' to practices they represent, saying that groups should act with ‘integrity and leadership when considering the accountability of GP practices'.
Other principles outlined in the document include GPs not personally profiting from commissioning budgets, and the need to reinvest freed-up resources in patient care.
The GPC's statement warns that contracts held by GPs should ‘never be allowed to conflict with their professional responsibilities in providing care for patients', and that GP consortiums should ensure that ‘NHS providers are the providers of choice' wherever possible.
