This month’s survey asking sessional GPs if they’re being involved with commissioning seems to confirm that emerging consortia are not involving sessionals in GP commissioning.
Over two-thirds of the 223 sessional GPs surveyed say they have received no communication from PCTs or consortia inviting them to get involved in GP commissioning.
At a time when the profession is split over its support for reform, it makes no sense for consortia to exclude this huge pool of enthusiastic, experienced GPs. Although not all Sessional GPs will want to be involved in the reforms, each consortium is likely to contain practices within it that are reluctant to help commission. Therefore consortia should make sure that they get everyone who wants to get involved, is involved.
Reading through responses to the survey, much of the problem seems to be down to poor communication.
This seems to be an ongoing problem for freelance GPs and it’s amazing that there is not a comprehensive database that allows PCTs or NHS bodies to get in touch with this branch of general practice when it is needed, and there has been little or no improvement since we highlighted communication issues during the flu pandemic.
More worryingly, respondents reported that they are actively being blocked out of consortia voting or have been told that partners will be taking on the risk and therefore running the show.
When I have tried to become involved – emails have gone ignored
Was once informed that a commissioning meeting was for partners only.
…things seem to be ‘stitched up’ by a few political practices.
Let’s hope these examples are not representative of practices across the country. It may of course also be that some gp locums and salaried GPs have not been hugely proactive in showing interest and attending meetings.
Hearteningly though, there are some signs that some shadow consortia are being innovative and 24% of respondents said that they had received some form of communication, particularly thanks to local voluntary Sessional GP groups disseminating this information. There were even 2 cases of Sessional GPs being invited to join the shadow executive committee.
Sessional GPs should make it clear what they can bring to emerging consortia – they often have invaluable experience from a range of practices across a consortium. We hope consortia realise this by the time they take on budgets in 2013.
Tom Ireland
[see GP News blog]
