BMA Releases GP Poll Questions, UK

The BMA's GPs committee (GPC) announced the questions it is asking in its poll of GPs1 on extended hours.

The UK wide poll of opinion asks family doctors to choose between the two options regarding extended hours put forward by the government,2 but it also asks for their opinion on government health policy and whether they think plans to introduce private providers into general practice will harm patient care. The poll is being posted to GPs this week and will close on Friday 29 February.

Commenting on the poll, Dr Laurence Buckman, Chairman of the BMA's GP Committee said:

"GPs around the country are angry at the way the government is railroading these changes through to fulfil a political pledge that is not backed up by sound evidence. We're not against providing extended hours. There are a minority of patients who want this service, and in fact a number of GPs already provide it. The GPC put forward its own proposals to offer longer opening hours for patients, but the government rejected them. In the same way that an unwise government target has made booking an in-hours appointment difficult for some patients, this new change will mean that patients who go to see their GP in extended hours may not get the level of care they expect and deserve. That will not be the fault of the GP who will be doing his or her best, it will be the fault of ill thought out and inflexible government plans."

Dr Buckman continued:

"Every GP in the country should fill in this poll when it lands on their doormat. It is vitally important we know their views. The government is going to force through non-negotiated changes to the contract and there is no third way available to GPs. The GPC thinks both options are unacceptable, but we have to choose one. GPs should not abstain or spoil their poll paper because they want to vote "No" to both options. We understand why GPs may want to do that, but in effect it just means they would be voting for alternative B.

"I'm asking GPs to consider the information that comes with the poll, to think about the impact both options would have on their surgery, their patients and general practice as a whole, and to answer accordingly."

Dr Buckman has also recorded a second podcast to the profession answering questions about the poll. The podcast will be available to watch on the BMA website later this week.

Notes

1. The GPC announced in December that it would poll the profession after the government rejected the BMA's own proposal for extended hours and announced GPs would have to accept its own plans or face further, harsher changes to their contract. The GPC said it could not accept or reject the 'offer' under threat and decided to seek the views of all GPs.

2. Option A refers to the government plan put to the GPC meeting on December 20 2007. Option B refers to the second option delivered to the BMA on December 21 after the GPC meeting. The terms of both vary from country to country and are spelled out in detail in the appendix of the letter accompanying the poll. Essentially in England under Option A an average practice will lose £18,000 in resources, under Option B they will lose £36,000. This money will have to be earned back by providing extended hours. However under Option B the money would be handed to the Primary Care Trust with no guarantee that it could be retained by practices or that it could be earned back.

The poll questions and accompanying letter are available here.

http://www.bma.org.uk