Freeze QOF for two years, say GP leaders
QOF 'box-ticking' has become so arduous that it now interferes with GPs' ability to deliver traditional primary care and should be frozen for two years in light of commissioning reforms, LMCs have said.
QOF 'box-ticking' has become so arduous that it now interferes with GPs' ability to deliver traditional primary care and should be frozen for two years in light of commissioning reforms, LMCs have said.
Practices must be able to sack CCG leaders if they fail to deliver, LMCs have said.
Details of the areas covered by all 212 proposed clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England, as well as their budgets and constituent practices, have been released.
NHS patients will be able to choose when and where they receive common diagnostic and monitoring tests, including blood tests and heart scans, under DH plans.
LMCs have called on the GMC to work with the BMA to develop a standard appraisal system which will be accepted for revalidation.
Hospitals that overcharge for care should be viewed as committing 'fraud', and failing to tackle the issue will 'kill' GP commissioning, an LMC has warned.
LMCs have backed industrial action over 'unfair and unnecessary' cuts to NHS pensions, and backed plans for GPs to pull out of commissioning as part of the action.
GPs should review the treatment of people who suffer from severe allergic reactions, the MHRA has said after the adrenaline injector Anapen was precautionary recalled.
GPs have unanimously said CQC registration 'is a bridge too far' and have called for practices not to foot the bill if it comes into force.
GPonline.com caught up with BMA treasurer and Cardiff GP Dr Andrew Dearden at the LMCs conference in Liverpool and asked him to comment on the BMA ballot on industrial action.
Controversial quality and productivity (QP) indicators added to the QOF last year were the 'price we had to pay' to avoid GPs losing pay, GP leaders have said.
Treating obstructive sleep apnoea with breathing equipment may prevent hypertension, a study has found, though other research suggests it may have no effect.
DH plans to overhaul education and training of GPs and other health workers need greater detail and clarity, MPs have said.
Half of PCTs are failing to invest in extra cancer tests despite long waiting times, putting plans to improve NHS cancer outcomes at risk.
England's cancer survival rates risk falling further behind the rest of Europe because PCTs are failing to invest in diagnostic services and plan for future demand.
GPs should be allowed to charge their patients private fees to provide treatment not funded by the NHS, LMCs have said.
Revalidation may never happen if problems with enhanced appraisal and remediation have to be sorted out before it goes ahead, a GMC representative has told the LMCs conference.
Plans to leave decisions on the scope of appraisal to local NHS organisations are making the process unworkable, GP leaders have warned.
The BMA's leadership has avoided being reprimanded over its efforts to oppose the Health Bill, after a motion condemning it for taking 'too long to wake up' was thrown out by LMC leaders.
A judicial review could be launched in a bid to get the government to publish the transitional risk register into the implementation of the Health and Social Care Act.
Revalidation and registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are both due to start this year, but many GPs say they are simply not ready, a GP poll reveals.
Ballot papers will be sent out this week in elections for six RCGP council posts, after a list of candidates was announced.
A glance back over this week's primary care news, opinion, top tweets and best gaffes.
Read the latest opinion pieces from our regular GP columnists Mary Selby, Liam Farrell and Chris Lancelot
Doctors are the worst patients, lacking both guilt and insight. Two weeks post op I am a bit unwell.
Knowledge is power; I was senior house officer in a neonatal ward when a new-fangled state-of-the-art monitoring device was delivered.
If England were to achieve cancer survival rates at the European average, then 5,000 lives would be saved every year. The figure jumps to 10,000 if England's performance were to achieve cancer survival rates at the European best. So says the DH's can...
If England was to achieve cancer survival rates at the European average, then 5,000 lives would be saved every year.

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