Difficult decisions: The ethics of GP commissioning

Abstract

GPs in the UK have been involved in commissioning healthcare for years; well before the Health and Social Care Act of 2012. In this article, we discuss the ethics of commissioning and resource allocation as an essential skill for all GPs. Limitations in resources for healthcare, need and expectations result in difficult decisions, which need to be visibly coherent and consistent for public trust in GPs is to be well-founded.