GPs hear of 'dire' consequences if contract rejected

The chairman of the BMA's General Practitioners Committee (GPC) has said that there would be "dire" consequences if GPs reject the new contract proposals.

At today's conference in London, Dr John Chisholm told more than 500 family doctors to focus on "long-term goals rather than short-term difficulties". He added that the decisions they were about to take were crucial to the future of general practice.

The proposed contract which, if adopted, may be introduced by April 2004, could see GP net incomes rise by more than a quarter over three years. The UK's 43,000 GP's will be balloted on the proposals, although a polling date has not yet been set.

Dr Chisholm said: "The consequences of rejection would be dire indeed – for GPs, for recruitment and retention into general practice, for patient care and for the NHS.

"By contrast, acceptance and implementation of the contract truly have the potential to create a regeneration in general practice, in which morale, recruitment and retention at last begin to improve. I am totally committed to securing those vital improvements."

GPs were told that the alternatives to a 'yes' vote were "bleak" as neither the GPC's alternatives to the contract nor the government's would be welcomed by most GPs.

The contract negotiations have been going on for three years now, but it could continue for longer still. A poll taken in March indicated that GPs were split halfway over the issue, and Dr Chisholm today said that he would not force a ballot until it was likely to result in a 'yes'. The contract proposes commitments to patients which some GPs maintain will prove financially harmful for smaller practices.

However, Dr Chisholm said that in spite of GPs being "undervalued for years", the new contract "offers the better incomes you are entitled to".

(GMcG)