GP contract 2008-09 – from 1 April 2008
As GPs will be aware, the new contract year started on 1 April 2008 and many will be wondering what the situation is with final details of the 2008/09 contract. Whilst the GPC and NHS Employers in England, and the relevant Departments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland now have in place a broad framework for the contract changes from 1 April 2008, finer details on certain aspects are still being discussed.
Details of how the contract will change were set out in previous communication in the GPC guidance note 'What the poll outcome means for your practice' available for download from the poll outcome page.
The main changes to the contract (in England, Scotland and Wales) include the introduction of an extended hours access Directed Enhanced Service (DES) which practices can chose to provide. It is not expected that PCOs and GPs will start providing the extended hours access until final guidance on the DES has been received, although discussions can proceed locally as desired. Further information will be available to practices in the next few weeks to assist with the practical implementation of the DES as well as negotiating LESs if more appropriate.
Changes to QOF for 2008-09 were announced on Friday 28 March 2008 and the GPC has issued a “Focus On” guidance note explaining these changes available to download from the "QOF Focus On". These include amendments to the indicators to ensure that they reflect the latest in clinical evidence and the removal of 58.5 QOF points to fund easier access to an appointment with a GP and to booking an appointment more than 2 days ahead. These QOF changes take effect from Tuesday 1 April 2008.
Any uplift to the contract funding streams will be determined by the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body which has not yet been published. 1.5% investment will be available nationally in the GMS contract to fund new services for patients; this investment in England will be allocated as follows:
- Firstly to meet the cost of any 2008/09 inflation uplift as determined by the government following a DDRB recommendation
- Should any of the 1.5% remain, this would be invested in clinical areas - the detail of this is currently being discussed.
The legal framework of updated Directions and the Statement of Financial Entitlements to support these changes, will be issued in due course. Further information will be issued by the GPC shortly.
A joint statement from the GPC and NHS Employers, issued on 3 April 2008 is availble to download from Changes to the national GP contract press release.