The survey also highlighted GPs' caution over how Practice Based Commissioning will work and its effect on Practice finances, as it rolls out in England in 2006. It showed many GPs welcome plans enabling pharmacists to handle non-critical patient consultations, so freeing up GP appointments.
GP-to-GP transfer the Doctors' priority
When asked the question 'which of these NPfIT services would you prioritise over all others (i.e. which will most benefit your practice's work)', 50% of GPs stated GP-to-GP data transfer. Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions (ETP) was ranked second with 12.9%, with Choose and Book gaining just 4.3%. Nearly 23% did not wish to state a priority.
Caution sounded on PBC
GPs expressed a note of caution over Practice Based Commissioning (PBC) as it rolls out during the year. 35.7% said they had a strong or fair understanding of how PBC works. 22.9% said they understood the principles but still had questions, while 27.1% felt they needed much more information about the process.
24.3% of GPs said they were not concerned about PBC's impact on Practice finances. 34.3% had some minor concerns on finances, while 22.9% had strong concerns. A further 8.6% believed it would have a negative impact.
Pharmacy consultations welcomed
Nearly 42% agreed or strongly agreed with the idea of pharmacists taking over non-critical patient consultations, with 22.9% expressing no strong opinion. 32.9% disagreed with pharmacy consultations.
In support of ETP, nearly 73% of GPs thought that ETP could help in reducing incidences of medication misuse and prescription fraud.
Community polyclinics not favoured
In contrast to suggestions in the Government's recent health White Paper, just 17.1% of GPs agreed that setting up community 'polyclinics', to enable more patients to be treated under one roof, would improve patient care. 68.6% disagreed, with 11.4% expressing no strong opinion.
GP work / life balance worsens
When asked if they felt their work / life balance had improved or worsened over the past two years, 25.7% reported an improvement. 22.9% felt there was no difference, but 51.5% felt it had worsened to some degree.
Commenting on the survey, Steve Marriott, marketing manager for InPS said: "We wanted to take a snapshot of GPs' attitudes to the issues and changes they are facing in their day-to-day work - both IT-related and non-IT related. It is interesting to note what GPs state as their own priorities for NPfIT, and how they see joined-up communications within their local communities benefiting patients.
"It's also clear that there is some trepidation over the roll-out of PBC during this year, which will hopefully be relieved by improved communications on PBC processes. The question over work-life balance perhaps reflects the considerable changes in delivery of Primary Care over the last 18 months, and this issue may well change over the next year."
Quelle: Publictechnology, 24.03.2006
