Contract changes will hit local doctors' fees

DOCTORS' fees could rise significantly in the future. They are fixed to go up with inflation for the next three years following a £2 increase in March, which was countered by a £4 increase in the States consultation grant.

But pressures from lucrative UK contracts mean packages will need to be more attractive to bring in and retain GPs, said the local doctors' organisation.

'There has recently been a review of doctors' fees undertaken with the Social Security Authority which we considered jointly and they set a formula for the next three years,' said Dr Brian Parkin, spokesman for the Guernsey branch of the British Medical Association.

'They didn't take into effect new practice in the UK, where they've put more money in and increased rewards to GPs because they're having a terrible time recruiting.'

He said less time was spent with patients because doctors had to work on audits and clinical governance to satisfy the General Medical Council.

Dr Parkin said that new contracts for GPs in the UK were rewarding doctors more highly and even allowing them to opt out of night work.

He said that an attractive package was needed to attract new doctors to Guernsey. The local BMA has contacted UK agencies to ask what rates doctors are being paid for night cover.

The local BMA will be looking at the impact of the UK contract. It will work with the Health Department and politicians to fix an appropriate fee.

'What people pay went down £2 this year and will go up only with inflation in the next two years, which must be good news,' said Dr Parkin.

'But at some time we have to address the changes in general practice forced on us and they are going to cost.'

It was too early to assess the impact of the UK changes to include it in the most recent local review.

'It's important to match the contracts in the UK. I think there will be a significant rise in price at the end of the three years or some other change by employing more people, but that has cost implications, too.'

Whether the government or patients meet the rise is 'the issue'.

'It's something that needs addressing, but not immediately.'