Published: 03/04/2003, Volume II3, No. 5849 Page 7

Delays to the ballot on the GP contract will not slow down implementation of the contract, the British Medical Association and NHS Confederation have pledged.

At a meeting last Thursday, the organisations agreed proposals for a permanent income guarantee so no doctors lose out under the contract's payment formula for practice income.

Though a new start date for the ballot - which was due to begin on 20 March - have yet to be set, both the confederation and the BMA said they were confident there will be no delay in the implementation of the contract.

Mike Farrar, who is leading the negotiations for the confederation, said the agreement was a 'silver lining' on the cloud that had delayed the contract ballot of all GPs. He said he hoped the arrangement would receive GPs' support.

A joint letter has now been sent to primary care trusts and all GPs informing them of the new system.

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