Changes to the GP contract in England for 2014/15 are expected to make GPs responsible for overseeing 24-hour care for around 1m frail elderly patients across the country.
Speaking at the King's Fund on 22 October, health secretary Jeremy Hunt revealed that the plans, currently under negotiation with the GPC, would give GPs ‘autonomy’ to deliver care plans.
Mr Hunt has promised to free GPs from bureaucracy, to allow them to be more ‘proactive’ with patients with complex needs.
But this could mean GPs are forced to make more care home visits, after the CQC chief warned that GPs must step up care home support.
The RCGP has warned that the plans will fail unless the government boosts GP numbers.
