If GP expenses continue to rise while earnings flatline, more doctors will be forced out of the health service, warns Dr David Turner
‘You do realise that general practice is a business, don’t you?’
That was the first thing the GP I was assigned to on my first primary care attachment at medical school said to me. It’s now my opening gambit to all medical students.
I’m amazed at how many students don’t realise that most GPs are independent contractors who don’t work for the NHS directly in the way that consultants do.
I’m less amazed at the similar ignorance there is among the public about our employment status.
Media reports along the lines of ‘GPs instructed to…’ and ‘GPs salaries to be…’ infuriate me. I always try to remind my non-medical friends and family that we do not ‘work’ for the NHS, so we can’t be ‘instructed’ to do anything. We have a contract to provide care and, if they would like to change it, we would have to renegotiate. Also, we don’t get a salary, but a profit share (that is, whatever is…
