GPs to become personally accountable for the health of older patients

Jeremy Hunt made the announcement today that GPs will be the named practitioner responsible for older people’s personal care plans and said the change will improve long term pressures on A&E as well as improve care for those most vulnerable.

Under the contract, GPs' new responsibilities include coordinating care for elderly patients from A&E and offering care homes, paramedics and A&E doctors a dedicated phone line so they can advise on treatment. Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt said:

“The 2004 GP contract broke the personal link between GP and patient. It piled target after target on doctors, took away their responsibility for out-of-hours care and put huge pressure on our A&E departments. This government has a plan to sort this out and today’s announcement of a new GP contract is a vital step.

“We are bringing back named GPs for the vulnerable elderly. This means proper family doctors, able to focus on giving elderly people the care they need and prevent unnecessary trips to hospital. Rigorous new inspections of GP surgeries will mean every local person will know whether they are getting the care they deserve.

“This is about fixing the long-term pressures on our A&E services, empowering hard-working doctors and improving care for those with the greatest need.”

The changes will make GPs the lead professional responsible for delivering a multidisciplinary care package that meets the needs of the patient by working with relevant associated health and social care professionals.

The contract was agreed between the British Medical Association’s General Practice Committee and NHS England, directed by the Department of Health after the plans were first revealed in September that GPs were likely to become the named clinicians for older vulnerable people.

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive, Alzheimer’s Society said: “Anything that enhances the ability for GPs to give their full support to people with dementia is a positive step forward. We look forward to the revised GP contract equipping doctors with the tools and confidence to ensure timely diagnosis and put care plans in place to help people live with dementia.”

It is hoped doctors will be able to spend more time on patients when GP ‘tick box targets’ are scrapped and GPs are trusted to use their professional judgement on the treatment of each individual patient based on their own needs.

Chair of the Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Dr Clare Gerada said:

“This is welcome news for patients and for GPs as it will help us to get back to our real job of providing care where it is most needed, rather than more box-ticking.

“It is not the remit of the College to get involved in contractual negotiations, but we have been calling for this for three years and are pleased that the Government and the BMA have been able to reach a solution that is workable for doctors and, most importantly, focuses our time on improving the care that our patients want and deserve.”