GPC Focus On MCPs
Overview
In October 2015, the Prime Minister announced the intention to create a new ‘voluntary’ contract for GPs in England that would provide ‘at scale’ general practice (i.e. over populations of at least 30,000-50,000 patients, but possibly larger depending on the services they cover). Over the last 6 months this has been developed by NHS England via the MCP Contract Development Group, resulting in the publication of the multispecialty community provider (MCP) emerging care model and contractframework. It is expected that the draft contract will follow at the end of September.It should be noted that whilst the GPC has a seat on this group, that should not be interpreted as endorsement for the proposals under development. Whilst supporting the principles of integratedcare, the GPC remains concerned by the apparent longer-term movement away from the nationalGMS contract, particularly outside of any formal negotiations, and continues to believe that the key aims of the MCP contract can be met within the existing framework and protections of the national GMS contract.This paper summarises the main contractual elements contained in the MCP contract framework, the key concerns about the contract and the GPCs proposed alternative.
