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They could start with the large proportion of GPs who are below average. I heard the other day that this is as high as 50% - one in two GPs! Shocking. Then, they could make sure that the lowest 25% perform as well as the best 10% currently do. Maybe release a slide pack which claims that primary care could save billions of pounds over the next five years...

Seriously, though, this looks like action for its own sake. It's pretty obvious that primary care in poor areas has to cope with a disproportionate set of problems, because of the massive effect that poverty has on health.

More money in recognition of this is the sensible answer, but this doesn't appear feasible. Now, rather than do nothing, they'll go after the 'underperforming' GPs.

If this means identifying which GPs are outliers even after adjusting for relevant factors such as local deprivation - good. This should be done anyway, by every CCG, and I'd be very surprised if these outliers are concentrated solely in poorer areas.

If, however, it's a case of pointing at a GP in Toxteth and asking them why their 'outcomes' are so different from one in Windsor, that's a different matter entirely.