yCan anyone help me to understand a little about how G.P.'s are
administered in the U.K.? I want to know about the Family Practitioner
Committee and what is its relationship to Regional Health Authority? I
note that as of 1 April the FPC no longer exists and is part of the local
Health Authority.
Here in Alberta we are in the throes of restructuring. Our current and
past situation is that any new graduate of a G.P. training programme can
hang up his shingle wherever he wishes, open his office and compete for
patients. There is no patient registration with an identified personal
G.P., and all patients can self refer to any doctor they wish, including
other G.P.s and any specialist who chooses to take unreferred patients.
All payment is item of service only and totally unrestricted and cost-free
to the patient. We have lots of G.P.'s in the cities and shortages in the
rural areas. Many City G.P.'s have opened extended hours clinics to which
patients self refer because it is more convenient.
Our masters have decided that we need to look at limits to our past
governments' health largesse, and seem to be enamoured of the British
Model. We're to be capitated and rostered.
All non-primary care has been regionalized in the last two years.The
Health Authority is both puchaser and provider. G.P.'s have no formal
status with the regional authority; primarily because were are paid fees
from a separate stream by the central government.
We would like to have a close relationship with the regional authority; to
promote coordinated and collaborative primary care. We would prefer to be
represented at the senior management level.
Is the F.P.C. the highest local authority for G.P.'s, with the
responsibility to approve appointments, deal with complaints(along with
the G.M.C.), and interact with patients? Is there good (? or any)
collaboration with the regional authority?
Any info on these topics would be most helpful. I have a meeting with the
Chief Medical Officer on Tuesday 2 July at 17:30 (about wednesday 0100
GMT), so hearing before then would be ideal but anytime would be fine.
Thanks,
Dr. Mark Joyce
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