The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2015

The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2015 was a significant piece of legislation that aimed to improve the quality of healthcare delivery in the UK. The regulations were introduced to replace the previous GMS contract, which had been in place since 2004.

The new regulations aimed to improve patient care, reduce bureaucracy, and incentivize GPs to provide better services. The key changes introduced by the regulations included a new funding model, an increased focus on patient satisfaction, and new requirements for GP practices to meet certain quality standards.

One of the most significant changes introduced by the new regulations was the funding model. Under the old contract, GPs were paid based on the number of patients on their books. The new contract changed this, instead providing a fixed payment per patient, regardless of the number of appointments they attended.

This change aimed to incentivize GPs to focus on preventative care and to reduce hospital admissions. It also aimed to reduce the administrative burden on GPs, allowing them to focus more on patient care.

The new regulations also placed a greater emphasis on patient satisfaction. GPs were required to conduct an annual patient survey and to use the results to improve the quality of care they provided. This feedback also formed a key part of the new Quality and Outcomes Framework, which set out specific targets for GP practices to achieve.

The regulations also introduced new requirements for GP practices to meet certain quality standards. These included requirements for practices to provide extended hours access, to offer online services, and to ensure that they had appropriate staffing levels.

Overall, the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2015 represented a significant step forward in improving the quality of healthcare delivery in the UK. While there were some concerns about the impact of the new funding model on smaller practices, the regulations were broadly welcomed by the medical community and have helped to improve the quality of care provided to patients across the country.