New Role For GPs Must Not Be Driven by Financial Crisis

12.36.23pm GMT Tue 6th Feb 2007

Commenting on a report by the Government's GP 'tsar', David Colin-Thome, urging family doctors to take on more responsibilities within the NHS, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb MP said:

"There is a danger that GPs will be pulled in too many directions, putting the quality of patient care at risk. Will time spent on minor surgery mean less time to see patients for a first diagnosis?

"We must not lose sight of a family doctor's central role, which is spending time with patients to identify their problems. Surveys have shown that people value their GPs role in providing out-of-hours care, yet this has diminished.

"The Government's drive towards community-based care is back to front and due to financial panic. They are shutting local services and moving care away from hospitals in a desperate bid to save money. Care should be available to patients at the level which would benefit them the most.

"The Government must also come clean about the financial effect on hospitals of moving care towards GPs. The inevitable consequence of shifting care out of hospitals is that some will become less viable."