FINANCE: Eighty six GP practices in Derbyshire have agreed to a “fairer” funding formula but patients in rural areas whose practices have not signed up to the deal could see worsening access to services.
The cluster consisting of NHS Derby City and NHS Derbyshire has signed the deal with 86 of its 94 practices to move to its Fairer Funding model. This pays practices a set rate based on weighted population, providing £64.59 a head for “core” primary care services and £11.56 a head for a “basket” of particular services.
An independent review called it a “pioneering and comprehensive attempt at a subject which had been widely ignored”.
HSJ has previously reported details of the deal. But board papers reveal eight practices have not signed the agreement, resulting in “some service inequity”. Three of these have agreed to a reduction in income but are not going to provide the basket of services. The remaining five, predominantly in rural locations, have refused either an income reduction or to provide the services. They are:
Eyam surgery
Evelyn surgery
Hartington surgery
Buxton Medical Practice
Crich Medical Practice
The first three are in rural areas where “the issue of availability of alternative services…is going to be difficult particularly for elderly patients reliant on public transport to access services elsewhere”.
Source
Source date
2 November 2011
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