Tag. You’re it.
Foundation trusts are not only new, but their governance arrangements are novel.
Reform of the NHS is progressing rapidly, but it is difficult to discern a clear underlying theme or sense of direction of that reform.
This document seeks to provide a clear guide for Primary Care Trusts and GP Co-operatives considering the future of Out of Hours (OOH) primary care provision.
It builds on the proposals put forward in ‘Care on Call – a mutual approach to out of hours primary care services,’ (Mutuo, January 2004) that new mutual providers may be created to ensure that OOH cover is continued under the new GMS contract.
It outlines the main practical issues that PCTs and GP Co-ops must consider in providing continuing care.
It describes the practical steps to follow in establishing the framework for the new mutual OOH provider.
This includes a methodical approach to dealing with questions around procurement, the establishment of a new corporate entity, and practical issues around the transition of services to the new provider.
The process that is proposed in this document has been road tested with a number of pathfinder projects, where this option is currently being implemented.
Additional information on the mutual sector, the benefits of mutual structures and a comparison between the Company Limited by Guarantee and Industrial & Provident Societies is published in the appendices.
PCTs and GP Co-ops requiring further advice and assistance are recommended to discuss their needs with the partners listed at the rear of the document.
This publication coincided with the implementation of the new GP contract in April 2004, which meant that doctors were no longer obliged to provide out-of-hours (OOH) cover and could choose to opt out of the service entirely. Under the new contract arrangements, the responsibility to ensure OOH cover is available for all patients, transfers to local primary care trusts (PCT).
This publication seeks to encourage the provision of out of hours cover from local community mutual organisations. New bodies will be established, with a membership drawn from GPs, other healthcare staff, administrative staff, and potentially patients from the local community. Existing GP Co-operatives will also be encouraged to transfer to these new arrangements.
In researching this publication, Mutuo facilitated a number of seminars that brought together representatives from GP co-operatives, PCTs, the Department of Health and the mutual sector. This publication has been informed by the discussions that took place at those events.