GPs’ lead negotiator on IT has advised GPs not to worry about the June target for Choose and Book in a month which he said would be the “biggest test since inception” for the e-booking system.
The advice follows concern from local medical committees that it will be impossible for many practices to achieve the target of 25% of referrals through Choose and Book in June and therefore retain their first incentive payment of 24p per patient because of a variety of problems with the Choose and Book system.
Dr Richard Vautrey, deputy chairman of the British Medical Association’s General Practitioner Committee and its lead on IT issues, said the GPC was seeking “greater clarity” with the national Choose and Book team over practices’ right to retain the payment where local difficulties have prevented them meeting the target.
He told EHI Primary Care: “We will be working very closely with the national Choose and Book team over the next couple of weeks as the system faces its biggest test since inception with large numbers of practices trying to use the system. It will become clear whether practices are able to get over the implementation hurdles or whether there are more significant problems.”
Dr Vautrey said practices should be encouraged to use Choose and Book but not feel pressurised by the June deadline in the DES.
He added: “We should not allow this particular date to prevent practices from getting engaged in a way that they feel comfortable with and practices need time and space to do that. Practices shouldn’t get too hung up on the June target if they are aspiring to use Choose and Book. It’s the last six months of the year that will be more important.”
The DES states that practices should not be penalised for missing targets for reasons outside their control and that judgement will rest with primary care trusts.
Dr Vautrey said: “We are trying to ensure that where there are local problems those are reflected within the target. We want to ensure there isn’t too much variability around the country.”
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