GP contracts to be changed to get more seeing patients face to face, under Sajid Javid proposals
SAJID Javid is eyeing up major changes to GP contracts to get more doctors to see patients face to face.
He wants to end the shameful postcode lottery which leaves millions of Brits unable to get an appointment not on Zoom.
Vast parts of the country have a massive shortage of full-time GPs - fuelling the problem.
The Health Secretary is considering a range of reforms to try to end the scandal.
One option is to change GP contracts so they are “incentivised” to go from working part time to full time.
While they could also be offered lucrative bungs to move to left-behind areas.
And a big focus will also be put on getting GPs to offer more face to face appointments.
A Government source said the aim is to give patients “more choice” so elderly patients are not forced to go online when they really want to physically see a doctor.
But the number of face to face appointments “is expected to increase”.
Whitehall insiders insisted that changing GP contracts is just one of the options being looked at.
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With No10 already bracing for a “summer of discontent” from militant rail unions, they do not want to have a row with doctors unions too.
So they are expected to try to lure GPs into increasing their hours and being more flexible rather than ordering them to.