 |
 |
UK: GP's Services To Expand 5:34pm Friday 23rd April 2004 SERVICES traditionally offered by hospitals will now be available at GP surgeries. The General Medical Services contract, which was introduced this month, aims to expand the range of treatment provided by family practices, enabling patients to access blood tests, investigations such as ECGs and physiotherapy at their local surgery. More than £15million is being invested in Watford and Three Rivers to improve services. GPs will be offered rewards based on the quality of care they provide and not simply the number of patients they treat. They will be able to opt out of out-of-hours provision and may choose to specialise in caring for acute or chronically sick patients, including Parkinson's sufferers and those with epilepsy. Where GPs choose to opt out of 24-hour care, immunisations, contraceptive provision and chronic disease management, Watford and Three Rivers Primary Care Trust will be obliged to find alternative providers. However, in most cases, practices are expected to expand the range of services they provide, improving the treatment and prevention of heart diseases, diabetes and asthma. The new contract aims to ease doctors' workload, making it easier to recruit more GPs into family practices. Chairman of the PCT's professional executive committee, Dr Nick Brown, said: "Patients may be seeing changes already as GPs prepare for the new scheme. Over time there will be development of better and more patient-friendly services closer to where they live." For more information telephone 01923 711596. SOURCE: Watford Observer, UK http://tinyurl.com/2ff5w * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn