Reform of General Practice

Abstract

MEDICAL JOURNAL capitation fee of £2 lOs. per patient. These fees could be subject to negotiation from time to time, and if a practice with a high consistent morbidity-for example, five items of service per year-wished such practice could submit figures and be paid a higher capitation fee. The capitation fee would apply only to general medical services, and maternity work, immunizations, temporary residents, and anaesthetics would be extra. The then adequate salary would enable general practitioners to finance their own ancillary help, service any loans, pay locums, and set aside an annual sum towards a new car. The Government would be reasonably well informed as to the global sum needed to finance general medical services. Adoption of my plan would make for a happy, contented general-practitioner force, and would greatly simplify the negotiations of the B.M.A. Publication of the facts that general practitioners were paid on the basis of one visit and three surgery consultations per year would create a better public image than the news that the average general practitioner, whoever that is, earns £2,750 per year plus £1,500 practice expenses. An adequate gross capitation fee, kept up to date with cost of living, would in my opinion solve all the general-practice problems that are capable of solution. It would certainly solve mine.-I am, etc., Lanark. T. M. GLAISTER.