GPs in Northern Ireland have taken a fresh step towards quitting the NHS in protest at the rising pressure on practices. Some 97% of 200 doctors attending a meeting in Belfast backed the idea of signing undated letters of resignation. The British Medical Association says the Northern Ireland government has failed to respond adequately to…

Low morale in in healthcare once again hit the headlines this week after a General Medical Council report warned that the situation with doctors has reached the point where patients are being put at risk. The regulator said there was “a state of unease within the medical profession across the UK that risks affecting patients…

I am lucky enough to live in a very pretty little fishing village in Cornwall – fabulous for walking the dogs on the beach morning and night, but the downside is the huge number of tourists who slowly amble their way through the village (in the middle of the road I might add) because they…

Many practice employees are also registered as patients in the practice they work with. So what should you do if you need to discipline them and, in response they make a complaint about their clinical/professional care within the practice?… [PLUS members] If you are PLUS member please click here to read the full article. Benefits of Practice…

Plans to increase inspection fees for practices by more than 75% sparked outrage last night. The Care Quality Commission has taken the step after overspending its budgets for practice inspections in a desperate bid to meet targets. The practice fees are due to be reimbursed by NHS England, allowing the commission to boost its budgets…

GP leaders have given a cautious welcome to news that the unpopular QOF payment scheme could be abandoned. NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said this week he wanted to find a successor scheme to QOF, warning it was becoming a box-ticking exercise. QOF – the Quality and Outcomes Framework – allows GPs to earn…

Details of the latest round of promised support for practices were announced yesterday, including indemnity funding, new premises and mental health projects. Under the proposals GPs will get help with indemnity costs for working in out of hours services. NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens unveiled the plans at the conference of the National Association…