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Scottish Government
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Preventing commercialisation of GP practices
The Scottish Government is taking steps to embed General Practice firmly within its vision of a mutual NHS and to prevent commercial companies from running GP surgeries.
A consultation, launched today, is seeking views on the eligibility criteria for providers of primary medical services, which includes issues surrounding commercialisation of GP practices.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"It's crucial that everyone who uses the health service in Scotland has confidence in the advice and treatment they are offered.
"The Scottish Government is committed to the vision of a mutual NHS underpinned by the values of public service, of co-operation and collaboration.
"That is why we are proposing to amend the law to ensure that General Practice is provided by those with a direct interest in the patients they treat and in the good of the wider NHS. I believe that commercial companies, where shareholders may not be part of or have a direct interest in the NHS, should not be used to provide such vital frontline services.
"The law currently allows commercial companies to provide GP services. Although this has not yet happened in Scotland, I believe we should act now to ensure GP services continue to be provided by the traditional model where the owners of the practice are directly involved in running the practice as well as treating patients."
Proposals to deliver this vision and debar commercial companies from providing GP services are expected to form part of the forthcoming Health Bill.
Scottish Ministers are proposing to amend the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978. At the moment, the vast majority of GP practices in Scotland operate under contracts between NHS boards and GPs although it is also an option for a board to employ doctors directly to provide GP services.
However, under the existing legislation, an NHS board could award a contract to a commercial company which would then employ doctors to treat patients.
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