LONDON (AFP) — A GP contract that cost the National Health Service 20 billion pounds has failed to deliver expected improvements in patient care, the government's accounting watchdog said Thursday.
The National Audit Office (NAO) said the GP contract cost the Department of Health nearly 1.8 billion pounds more than expected in its first three years, but despite GPs -- who run their own practice -- seeing their salary soar by 58 percent, productivity has fallen by 2.5 percent each year.
The average pay of a GP partner in 2005-06 was 113,614 pounds even though they are now working seven hours less each week than their predecessors in 1992.
The contract was introduced in 2004 to encourage more trainee doctors to opt for a career in general practice. It also gave doctors the opportunity to opt-out of delivering out-of-hours care.
Karen Taylor, director of health at the NAO, said the contract had helped with the recruitment and retention of staff.
But she told the Press Association: "I think as far as the public and taxpayer is concerned, the benefits they should have been expecting to see have not materialised to the extent they should have done.
"From their perspective, it's not a good deal for them."
Tim Burr, head of the National Audit Office, said: "There is no doubt that a new GP contract was needed and there are now 4,000 more GPs than five years ago.
"But in return for higher pay, we have yet to see real increases in productivity," he said.
"The extra money flowing into practices has largely benefited GP partners rather than rewarding other important members of the practice team."
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