IT services commitment to GPs downgraded

A forthcoming document on the level of IT service practices can expect from primary care organisations has been downgraded from a legally binding agreement to a guidance note, according to GP representatives.

The British Medical Association’s General Practitioner Committee heard at its meeting this month that the service level agreement on IT is due to be published early in the new year.

However GPC members criticised the delay in producing the document, originally promised in the new GMS contract, which began 21 months ago, and the status it has been given by the department. The GPC heard that Department of Health lawyers have redrafted the latest version of the service level agreement.

The GPC told GPs this week: “Following the redraft the document now reads more like guidance for PCTs and practices. This was not what was envisaged in the original contract agreement and the GPC will continue to press for a legally binding service level agreement document.”

The new GMS contract transferred the responsibility for buying and maintaining IT systems from practices to PCOs. The SLA is intended to ensure that the transfer of ownership of IT systems and equipment from practices to PCOs takes place in accordance within nationally agreed guidelines, while service levels are maintained or improved. The new contract states that the SLA should provide practices with nationally approved assurances on training, maintenance and support.

The lack of a legally binding agreement is unlikely to do much to reassure those grassroots GPs who say they are under pressure to move systems with no funding available to maintain their existing systems.

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PCT IT service agreement still missing