News: in detail
back to News HeadlinesAnnual check for the over 75s threatened by new GP rules
Local GP practices will no longer be required to offer an annual health check-up for the over 75s under the new contract for doctors which will come into force from April 2004, the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) has uncovered.
Under the proposed changes, individual practices will also be able to exercise greater flexibility in deciding which services they offer and whether or not they will provide out of hours care.
As a result, the provision of a falls prevention service is also threatened.
However, the most significant change surrounds the issue of funding. In the future, there will be a central budget that will cover half the funding of all local GP surgeries.
The other half will be obtained through what is to be known as 'quality payments' - a points-based rating sys-tem that will award money depending on the types of illnesses that the practice treats.
Critics are concerned that this may have a detrimental effect on the lives of many elderly patients.
Dr Mary Parkinson, NPC health advisor said: "There is a real concern that some conditions that affect older people will attract less money under this new system and therefore treatment in these areas will not be a priority for some practices."
Pensioner groups are asked to raise these important issues with their local MPs, Primary Care Trusts and GP surgeries.
