Press release: NHS chief executives back overhaul of GP registration

03 Nov 2005

The majority of NHS chief executives think that GP registration should continue to underpin NHS primary care but the current system of patients registering with a single GP needs to be overhauled.

That is the key finding of a survey of 60 NHS chief executives carried out by the NHS Confederation, which represents more than 90per cent of NHS organisations.

NHS leaders' verdict comes as the Department of Health's major public consultation on all aspects of out of hospital care including GP services, which culminated in a mass meeting of 1,000 patients in Birmingham on Saturday, comes to a close on Friday (November 4).

When asked if GP registration is still relevant in a 21st century health system, 75 per cent of NHS chief executives tended to or strongly agreed but 78 per cent said that patients should no longer be limited to registration with a single GP.

Dr Gill Morgan, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, said: "It is clear that NHS leaders believe GP registration should be retained but they obviously think that it needs to become more flexible to reflect patients' needs in the modern world.

"Currently patients can only register with a GP if they can prove that they are living in the practice area but this limits access to GPs and does not support the concept of a patient-centred NHS."

When asked what form GP registration should take, chief executives said:

• Option of registration with an alternative medical provider (34 per cent)
  Patients could register with an independent sector primary care provider, under the auspices of the NHS.
• Multiple registration (30 per cent)
  Patients could register with a number of different practices - in different geographical locations and specialists in different conditions, for example, diabetes.
• Single registration (21 per cent)
  This is the current form of registration.
• Dual registration (11 per cent)
  This would allow patients to register with a GP close to their home as well as a GP close to their place of work .
• Other (4 per cent)

Dr Gill Morgan said: "The results of our survey of NHS chief executives are timely because early feedback from the Department of Health's public consultation on out of hospital care - 'Your Health, Your Care, Your Say' - indicates that access to primary care is a concern.

"People want access to services in a way that reflects their needs, which will vary depending on their personal circumstances.

"GP access is clearly a matter of public concern, as demonstrated by the 'State of Healthcare 2005' report published by the Healthcare Commission earlier this year which showed that 25 per cent of the public had to wait more than two days to see their GP.

"Changing the current form of single GP registration to something more flexible, for example, registering with an alternative medical provider or having the option of dual registration so that you have a GP who is close to your home and a second GP who is close to your workplace, would improve access to GPs for patients.

"There is a clear need for change - now we need to look at how this would work in practice and how it would impact on GPs.

"We look forward to seeing proposals for GP registration in the out of hospital White Paper when it is published and we hope that this kind of feedback from NHS leaders adds to the out of hospital care debate."

ENDS
  

Notes for editors

The NHS Confederation represents more than 90 per cent of the organisations that make up the NHS throughout the UK. Its members include the majority of NHS trusts including acute trusts, ambulance services, foundation trusts, mental health and learning disability trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; NHS boards and special boards in Scotland; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland. 

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