Underperforming GPs key to improving primary care

Addressing performance levels of GPs who do not provide value for money will improve the standards of primary care in poorer areas, a senior DH advisor has said.

Sir John Oldham, National Clinical Lead for the QIPP agenda, called for clinical commissioning groups to tackle performance levels to counter under-resourced primary care services.

He said improving standards of primary care doesn’t necessarily involve investing huge sums of money but “looking at what return we get on existing investment”.

The GP advisor was speaking after he chaired an international review of primary care standards. The summit found that the majority of countries required investment to drive improvements.

Sir John acknowledged that funding was unlikely in England at a time when the NHS is challenged with making £20bn of efficiency savings. But he did say that the NHS Commissioning Board and CCGs should challenge underperforming doctors.

“We need to make sure provision in less well-off areas is as good as in well-off areas,” he said. “Most of us recognise the minority [of poor GPs] need tackling, not least to make sure patients receive a good level of care, but also to make sure they are contributing to CCGs’ commissioning aims.”