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GP catchment areas to be ended GP catchment areas to be ended
(20 minutes later)
GP catchment areas are to be scrapped in England within a year, Health Secretary Andy Burnham will say later.GP catchment areas are to be scrapped in England within a year, Health Secretary Andy Burnham will say later.
Ministers want to introduce more choice into the family doctor system, believing it will drive up standards.Ministers want to introduce more choice into the family doctor system, believing it will drive up standards.
The move has been on the cards for some time and is part of the government's long-running drive to improve access.The move has been on the cards for some time and is part of the government's long-running drive to improve access.
Doctors' leaders said they were not opposed to the idea, but warned there were some issues that still needed resolving.Doctors' leaders said they were not opposed to the idea, but warned there were some issues that still needed resolving.
The government has been seeking to get more from GPs ever since their pay rocketed with the introduction of a new contract in 2004.The government has been seeking to get more from GPs ever since their pay rocketed with the introduction of a new contract in 2004.
They have already got many GPs to open for longer, but the idea of ending catchment areas was being talked about by ministers even before Gordon Brown became prime minister.They have already got many GPs to open for longer, but the idea of ending catchment areas was being talked about by ministers even before Gordon Brown became prime minister.
It was also mentioned by Lord Darzi when he unveiled his review of the health service last summer.It was also mentioned by Lord Darzi when he unveiled his review of the health service last summer.
Boundaries endingBoundaries ending
In a speech in London later, the health secretary will say ending the boundary system will help "drive up standards" and that he wants it introduced by next autumn.In a speech in London later, the health secretary will say ending the boundary system will help "drive up standards" and that he wants it introduced by next autumn.
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Patient choice is a well established right in hospital care with people entitled to choose from any hospital in the country for treatment.Patient choice is a well established right in hospital care with people entitled to choose from any hospital in the country for treatment.
And Mr Burnham is expected to say: "In this day and age I can see no reason why patients should not be able to choose the GP practice they want.And Mr Burnham is expected to say: "In this day and age I can see no reason why patients should not be able to choose the GP practice they want.
"Many of us lead hectic lives and health services should be there to make things easier."Many of us lead hectic lives and health services should be there to make things easier.
"A busy mum needs flexibility - she may want to register at a practice near her children's school."A busy mum needs flexibility - she may want to register at a practice near her children's school.
"Equally, a commuter may want to register near to work.""Equally, a commuter may want to register near to work."
GPs agree their catchment areas with local health managers.GPs agree their catchment areas with local health managers.
They vary in size with some rural doctors seeing patients up to 40 miles away, while city-based doctors often refuse people who are outside a two-mile radius.They vary in size with some rural doctors seeing patients up to 40 miles away, while city-based doctors often refuse people who are outside a two-mile radius.
Doctors' warningDoctors' warning
Formal discussions are still to take place with the British Medical Association, the doctors' trade union.Formal discussions are still to take place with the British Medical Association, the doctors' trade union.
Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the BMA's GPs committee, said the union was willing to work with government on how the idea might be implemented.Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the BMA's GPs committee, said the union was willing to work with government on how the idea might be implemented.
But he said: "The rest of the health service and social services and county councils all work by areas, and suddenly we're going to take general practice out of that and that is very difficult to see how you can make it work.But he said: "The rest of the health service and social services and county councils all work by areas, and suddenly we're going to take general practice out of that and that is very difficult to see how you can make it work.
"We think it is going to be very complicated.""We think it is going to be very complicated."
He added: "It is going to be very difficult for the patients who are able to get a doctor remotely - for example, how will they get home visits? - and for the patients who are left behind.He added: "It is going to be very difficult for the patients who are able to get a doctor remotely - for example, how will they get home visits? - and for the patients who are left behind.
"What will happen to their practice if they're destabilised, because some of the younger, healthier patients have gone elsewhere?""What will happen to their practice if they're destabilised, because some of the younger, healthier patients have gone elsewhere?"
The union says that a mix of patients, some of them not visiting their doctor often, helps general practice to be cost-effective.The union says that a mix of patients, some of them not visiting their doctor often, helps general practice to be cost-effective.
It warns that if younger people register near their workplaces, some practices could be left with patient lists mainly composed of those with long-term conditions and complex illness.It warns that if younger people register near their workplaces, some practices could be left with patient lists mainly composed of those with long-term conditions and complex illness.
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "We've always argued that it was ludicrous for the government to talk about giving people a choice of GP when they restricted that choice based on their postcode.Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "We've always argued that it was ludicrous for the government to talk about giving people a choice of GP when they restricted that choice based on their postcode.
"This is too little too late.""This is too little too late."
There are no plans to alter catchment area regulations in the rest of the UK, where they tend to be much bigger, and there is less pressure on GPs' lists.There are no plans to alter catchment area regulations in the rest of the UK, where they tend to be much bigger, and there is less pressure on GPs' lists.
Mr Burnham is also expected to set out details of how he plans to link hospital funding to patient experience.Mr Burnham is also expected to set out details of how he plans to link hospital funding to patient experience.
Again, this was a policy which was set out in the Darzi review, but is now being promoted as a key plank in the next stage of improving the NHS.Again, this was a policy which was set out in the Darzi review, but is now being promoted as a key plank in the next stage of improving the NHS.