Avon Local Medial Committee - BMA proposes fifth option for reforming practice boundaries

All four options to reform GP practice boundaries will damage patient care and the government should consider a fifth proposal, the BMA said today (Friday 2 July 2010), in its submission to the consultation on the issue.¹

Dr Laurence Buckman, Chairman of the BMA’s GPs Committee, said:

“GPs are extremely worried about the proposals to reform practice boundaries being put forward in the government’s consultation, because they will damage patient care. The elderly, the infirm, vulnerable children and adults and those needing home visits are all likely to be adversely affected by these proposals. In addition to this there is the huge cost of the additional bureaucracy that will be necessary – it doesn’t seem sensible at a time when the NHS is being asked to make huge efficiency savings. We do, however, want to address the needs of the one in ten patients who aren’t currently satisfied with the care they receive², and that’s why we’ve put forward a fifth proposal for the government to consider.”

The BMA proposal to reform practice boundaries would require the following changes:

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  • Widening boundaries, particularly in densely populated urban areas, to give patients greater choice when deciding where to register
  • Formalising the process of operating ‘flexible’ boundaries, which happens already in some areas. This would allow existing patients who move just outside a practice boundary area to stay with their GP if they want to
  • Simplifying the system of opening and closing practice lists
  • Increasing the use of remote consultations, allowing patients who are away from home to have a consultation provided by their existing GP practice
  • Reforming the temporary residents arrangements in order to enable unregistered patients to book appointments at any GP surgery in England on an ad hoc basis

Dr Buckman added:

“We think our proposal will be simpler and cheaper to implement, it will make it easier for patients to change GP practice or see a GP anywhere else in the country on an ad hoc basis and, most importantly, it won’t negatively impact on certain groups of patients. We would be very happy to discuss this proposal with the government in more detail.”