Beccy Baird, Senior Fellow at The King’s Fund responded to the publication of Dr Nigel Watson’s GP partnership review
‘These proposals are a welcome attempt to revitalise the partnership model which has proved very successful over many years. The review deals with some of the technicalities that dissuade GPs’ from becoming partners, such as indemnity and risk. However, tackling unsustainable increases in the volume and intensity of GPs’ workloads will also be critical to ensuring the partnership model remains viable. A credible national workforce strategy which addresses gaps in the numbers and skills mix of health care staff needed to support general practice is also desperately needed.’
‘The NHS long-term plan places general practice at the heart of improvements to the health service. If that ambition is to be met, then general practice should be provided with support and training in leadership, management and organisational development, and it will need to be central to integrated system plans.’