RCGP chairwoman Dr Clare Gerada said while she acknowledges change needs to happen in the NHS, she has ‘serious concerns’ about the current plans.
In an accompanying report, the RCGP called on the government to allow Monitor, the National Commissioning Board and GP consortia, to enable integrated services ‘without fear of a competition referral’.
She also urged the government to revise its plans for abolishing practice boundaries, which she said will ‘undermine the relationship between a local GP and local patients’.
Dr Gerada said: ‘We understand that the NHS needs to change, and we have said all along that the College is not opposed to health service reform.
‘The reforms promote competition without sufficient clarification of how services to patients will be safeguarded and improved. We believe that provider side reforms could deal with many of the issues without the need for repeated organisational change or by many of the proposed reforms.’
RCGP demands Health Bill changes
The RCGP has written to Prime Minister David Cameron demanding changes to the Health Bill to ensure the principles of the NHS are protected.
