NHS England, April 2014
- NHS England has published a 5-page guide to support GPs in their role of ‘accountable GP’ which describes the role and responsibilities of GPs and CCGs in carrying out this significant new enhanced service that came into effect on 1 April 2014. The guide complements the specification and guidance for the enhanced service.
- The guide sets out what this means for general practice, CCGs and patients and carers.
- What this means for CCGs:
- CCGs should CCGs to identify an overall lead for this new programme and to work with GPs and the practices – to support implementation.
- CCGs should identify at least £5 per patient from their budgets for 2014/15 and use this to support GP plans for improving services for older people and those with more complex needs. This broadly equates to £50 per head for patients who are aged 75 and over.
- CCGs should be using this funding to commission additional primary care services or community health services (over and above those provided under the new enhanced service) that GPs and practices have prioritised.
- Any practice plans should complement the initiatives planned through the Better Care Fund for 2015/16, for which one of the criteria is an accountable professional for integrated packages of care.
- Suggestions for additional services based in general practice or the community
- NHS England will provide benchmarked information on a range of measures of success for this programme to help to identify the impact on quality of care.
- NHS England have worked with the BMA General Practitioners Committee to develop the guidance and detailed specification for this service, available here.
