In an exclusive interview with GP, Mr Lansley said the NHS Commissioning Board – which will hold primary care contracts – 'will not behave like PCTs', and will allow practices greater freedom.
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The level of DoH micro-management in the existing contract has become ‘absurd’, said Mr Lansley, who described extended hours as ‘madness’.
Mr Lansley said: ‘We are expecting a greater clarity of the outcomes we are looking for, but apart from that, and subject to [practices] maintaining financial control, we expect greater freedom.'
Although changes to the 2011/12 contract are expected to be minor, Mr Lansley says a move to a single GP contract in the coming years will bring ‘clarity and simplicity’ to primary care.
The new contract should encourage GPs to build their own services but without interference from managers, he said.
‘We’re looking for general practice to take responsibility themselves. In a locality every practice should have the opportunity to structure the nature of services they are providing in a way which is often a characteristic of PMS contracts as opposed to GMS contracts.’
GPC deputy chairman Dr Richard Vautrey urged Mr Lansley to end PCT microman-agement straight away.
‘Many PCTs are continuing to act in this way, particularly with respect to reviewing PMS contracts,’ he said. ‘I hope we don't have to wait for the NHS Commissioning Board to be formed before his welcome as-pirations become a reality.’
Mr Lansley said the board’s performance management would be as ‘light touch’ as possible, with consortia effec-tively policing themselves.
But it will have the power to take over failing consortia, reappoint interim management or ‘instruct neighbouring consor-tia to take over’, he added.
The health secretary also ruled out rumours that revalidation is to be scrapped. He told GP that he wanted to see the results of pilots to ensure the system's benefits outweighed its costs.
'I want to ensure it does the job we want it to.'
