DoH to reform GP training practice funding, Pulse suggests

According to Pulse, the Department of Health (DoH) is reviewing the way it funds practices which offer training placements in a bid to address unfair regional variations.

Documents from the Health Education England (HEE) board have revealed that the DoH is considering running a pilot in GP practices to identify clinical time and resource costs associated with offering training.

In an interview with Pulse, a spokesperson for HEE said it was working with the British Medical Association (BMA), the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and medical schools to create a ‘fairer funding system’.

A statement from the DoH and HEE said: “We need a fair funding system for all GP trainees, including support tailored to postgraduates’ stage of training. We are working with the DoH, the BMA, RCGP and the medical schools to establish how that new system should work.

“This is a joint project with the DoH and although support has been provided in identifying GP practices to participate in the pilot, the practices identified have not submitted cost data to the required timescales. Indications are that they expect to be paid £1,000 per practice to participate. This would set a dangerous precedent if HEE pays primary care for data that secondary care provides at no cost to HEE or the DoH.”