Almost 85% of GPs believe the NHS will be privatised within ten years, with 45% predicting it will occur within five years, a survey of 1,137 NHS staff has revealed.
The survey, conducted by Cogora, which publishes Pulse, also revealed that GPs felt less engaged in the CCG decision-making than practice managers.
It found that 91% of GPs felt the reforms resulted in more work, while 97% of practice managers believe workload had increased.
The survey questioned 548 GPs, 418 nurses and 171 practice managers.
It found that exactly half of practice managers felt that privatisation will happen within seven years, compared with 45% of GPs.
Only 14% of GPs and 11% of practice managers felt that privatisation will not occur in the next ten years.
Dr Richard Vautrey, deputy chair of the GPC, said that practice managers’ estimates could be more accurate as they are closer to commissioning decisions.
He said: ‘Practice managers are increasingly the ones within the practice that are getting involved with the day-to-day CCG roles on behalf of the practice because GPs themselves are so overwhelmed with their practice commitments.’
