By Gareth Iacobucci
GPs are to be partially funded according to their ability to proactively engage with patients from this April after the Government and GPC announced plans for a new Patient Participation DES.
Cash released through a reduction in extended hours payments is to be redirected to the new DES, as part of a huge shake-up of GP funding.
GPs will be able to access around £60m of released investment depending on their ability to promote ‘proactive engagement' through patient reference groups and conducting local patient surveys to gauge patient experience.
The funding to carry out local surveys comes as the Government confirmed that it was removing 58.5 QOF points attached to the controversial PE7 and PE8 indicators, which have paid GPs according to their results on the national GP patient survey.
Full coverage of the contract dealContract headlines:
More work, no more pay: Government reveals GP contract deal
Extended hours funding cut by a third
QOF funding shifted to efficiency savings drive
Northern Irish GPs left in limbo over contract deal
Buckman: GPC 'pleased' with Government concessions on GP contract deal
Analysis: New QOF points on admissions and prescribing are last throw of dice for UK-wide contract
