The NHS reforms: what they will mean for generalist and specialist clinicians

Abstract

The need for better collaboration between primary and secondary care and other sectors of the NHS workforce was one of the key messages that came out of the Future Forum, which considered the government's plans for reform of the NHS. We asked six professional leaders for their views on how they see the specialties working with primary care in the future # WHAT WILL THE NEW NHS MEAN FOR GPS? {#article-title-2} In the first instance, the new NHS will give GPs responsibility, not just for providing (primary care) services to their patients, but also for commissioning the vast majority of secondary care for their registered patients. In reality, commissioning health services requires more than just GPs to be involved. GPs must commission in partnership with other secondary care, public health, and NHS management colleagues and with the support of those in local government. As it is currently constituted, GPs will have the majority of places on the Board of Clinical Commissioning Groups and will have the lead responsibility, overand above any other single specialty group. Through commissioning GPs will largely determine what services should be bought on patients' behalf. Clare Gerada, Chair of RCGP Council Whatever the future, GPs must focus on improving the care they provide to their patients. They must focus on improving access, continuity, and care. GPs must not be distracted from promoting the core values of general practice; that is commitment to excellent medical generalism, treating the patient as an individual, providing continuity of care, and providing advocacy on behalf of our patients and communities. Commissioning must not detract us from ourduties as clinicians. The focus must not just be on commissioning but also on provider reform. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) believes that the way forward includes: