GP contract has gone over budget says NAO

A report from the National Audit Office (NAO) discovered that the contract for general practice has cost the Department of Health £1.76 billion more than was budgeted for, it has emerged.

During the first two years of the contract, which has helped to improve retention and recruitment of GPs, productivity fell by 2.5 per cent and GPs are now working an average of seven hours less each week compared to in 1992.

And although the amount of consultations has increased, these have not done so in proportion with rising costs, the NAO said.

Overspending was attributed to the GP pay-for-performance scheme, which generated an improvement in quality of care but as yet there is no way to estimate whether general health has also improved.

“There are now 4,000 more GPs than five years ago,” said Tim Burr, head of the NAO. “But in return for higher pay, we have yet to see real increases in productivity.”

Last week saw other reports from the NAO focus on the UK digital switchover and the rollout of the Jobcentre Plus network.