#WeekInReview - 20 December: Baker v Burnham over 48-hour access, #AskLordHowe and Xmas

#News

The Christmas edition of GP is available now on iPad only. Our next full edition is dated 6 January. Health minister Lord Howe agreed to answer our readers' questions on the GP contract and we have the live #AskLordHowe webchat in full.

#OurMostReadStories

1. Exclusive: GPs warned over accepting Christmas gifts from patients

2. £30,000 per practice for named clinician role

3. GP access in core hours faces NHS England scrutiny

4. Keogh seven-day NHS plans to boost hospital support for GPs

5. NHS England Christmas GP opening plan 'unjustifiable'

#OurBestReadBlog

Christmas practice opening hours and NHS England's Dr Scrooge by Dr Chris Lancelot (@DrChrisLancelot).

#Twitter

New RCGP chairman Dr Maureen Baker (@MaureenRCGP) took to Twitter to attack shadow health secretary Andy Burnham's (@AndyBurnhamMP) call for the reintroduction of 48-hour targets for GP appointments.

.@andyburnhammp @David_Cameron No. It's because there has been 3 years if cash falls in general practice funding in context of rising demand

— Dr Maureen Baker (@Maureenrcgp) December 18, 2013

.@andyburnhammp Access needs 2 be improved, but 48 hr target inappropriately prioritises acute self-limiting probs. Not good use of resource

— Dr Maureen Baker (@Maureenrcgp) December 18, 2013

And, finally, health minister Lord Howe thinks GPs should work more efficiently to open seven days a week but is it a good thing? 

Thank you to this mystery man.... pic.twitter.com/MEHqHk0pOg

— Stephanie Blease (@StephanieBlease) December 18, 2013