GPs refuse to work out of hours

Reluctant Hero · GPs refuse to work out of hours

I have to say, GPs should start to live in the real world. I think it is essential that we move towards having surgeries open in the evening and at weekends. This can only benefit the health of Scotland.

The BMA are harping on about it being the equivalent to a pay cut, but in NHS terms, GPs have had by far the best deal. Back in 2004, GPs got a significant pay rise and at the same time a reduction in the hours they work.

Contrast this with many manual NHS workers, who got an increase in hours and got frozen on the same salary for years to come, no increase for cost of living or nothing. In effect a pay cut.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7270470.stm

GPs in row over increased hours

Doctors could be heading for a clash with the Scottish Government over plans to encourage them to work in the evenings and at weekends.
The British Medical Association said its members are likely to refuse to open longer hours which will effectively mean them taking a pay cut.

The working hours was put forward by health secretary Nicola Sturgeon.

She wants GPs to make their hours more suitable for office workers who have to take time off to see a doctor.

It is estimated this costs the British economy £1bn per year.

However, doctors say they have been betrayed by the government, having only negotiated a new contract in 2004 which saw most of them receiving a significant pay rise.

This is about making sure patients have access that's convenient for them

Nicola Sturgeon
Health Secretary

Doctors in England will get no new money to open later or at weekends, in Scotland there is new funding attached, but doctors have said that thus will not cover their costs.

Dr Robert Tobin, who works for a practice in Hamilton, said that GPs were angry about the way the deal was being imposed on them and that many would not offer the out of hours service.

He said: "We have a contract with the government which can only be changed by negotiation and mutual agreement.

"The government have broken the contract and they are unilaterally imposing changes that cut our practice funding.

More harm

"With any limited resource, if you stretch it too far something has to give and at the moment the transfer of resources to evenings and weekends will have a negative impact on the care provided during normal working hours, which is when the vast majority of patients need and want to be seen."

He added that the plans could do more harm than good.

Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland, Health Secretary Nicola sturgeon said she could understand that GPs were angry but she said the offer on the table was not being imposed.

She said: "We have been and continue to be in negotiations with GPs about the detail of the implementation, but it's a good offer because it does deliver extended access, around two and a half hours a week for the average practice that will avoid people having to take time off to go to their doctor, and in return doctors will get additional investment".

She went on: "This is about making sure patients have access that's convenient for them.

"Nobody's suggesting that doctors go back to the old days of 24-hour working, but we do know there is a demand from patients to be able to see their GPs without taking time off work and I think that's right."

Morph

I thnk this is shocking. GPs are the only doctors who get to choose their hours. I have a friend who isa doctor in A + E and she works some ofthe longest hours of anyone i know. This just smacks of selfishness. When you think of the average wage of a GP compared to a nurse of even a physio they can afford to work the odd weekend, this could even be set out in a rota fashion to allow GPS still to keep the majority of their weekends.

I also know that as a teacher trying to get an appointment is a nightmare so i cant imagine how hard it must be for someone finishing at 5 or even 6.

Sorry that was a bit of a rant but GPs annoy me in general