Without revealing sources, this is the press release that the GMSC has
issued today.
Make your own conclusion.
Me? That horrific and sickening feeling that I have been sold down the
river yet again.
Ahmad
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GMSC SUPPORTS NEW GUARANTEES ON PRIMARY CARE GROUPS
The BMA's General Medical Services Committee, which represents all NHS
general practitioners, today wholeheartedly supported the substantial
progress made in negotiations with the Government on ?the New NHS?. It
considered that the proposals outlined in a letter from Alan Milburn
(17
June) formed an acceptable basis for GPs to progress their involvement
with
Primary Care Groups. This was a response to the letter (5 May) from Dr
John Chisholm, the Committee's chairman, which identified the key
concerns
of general practitioners which had to be addressed before they would be
reassured it was safe to enter Primary Care Groups.
The committee passed three motions.
'The GMSC congratulates its negotiating team on the progress made in
negotiations with the Government on the New NHS White Paper and
wholeheartedly supports their achievements.'
'The GMSC
i i) believes that the proposals contained in the Minister's
letter of 17
June form an acceptable basis for GPs to progress their
involvement
in PCGs
ii ii) invites the LMC Conference to support this decision.'
'The negotiators should be invited to submit an appropriate motion to
Conference to enable it to conduct an informed debate about recent NHS
developments.'
These important negotiations have been conducted by the United Kingdom
General Medical Services Committee in relation to the English White
Paper,
but it is recognised that the principles identified have implications
for
the future of general practice throughout the UK.
Dr John Chisholm said after the meeting: ?I believe that the progress
that
has been made during the last month's constructive negotiations gives
general practitioners the reassurances they have been seeking to get
them
to the starting gate. Without such assurances, doctors have been
understandably fearful that the Government's proposals spelt danger.
The
Minister?s guarantees should now make family doctors confident that
their
future has been safeguarded. I feel that GPs do now have the
opportunity to
commit themselves to making ?the New NHS? work, to the advantage of
both
doctors and patients. The Minister acknowledges that there is much
more
work still to be done before Primary Care Groups go live next April,
and
that the GMSC will be fully involved in the processes of consultation
and
negotiation.?
________________________________________
Dr Ahmad Risk
http://mednetics.org
home: +44 1273 748198
work: +44 1737 240022
fax: +44 1737 244660
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