GPs to receive extra £30m for IT upgrade

5 Feb 04
The Department of Health has allocated an extra £30m to boost information technology in general practice just three months after earmarking £20m for the same purpose.

06 February 2004

The Department of Health has allocated an extra £30m to boost information technology in general practice just three months after earmarking £20m for the same purpose.

Under their new general medical services (GMS) contract, which is due to be implemented in April, GPs will be paid for the quality of their work as well as quantity. The new contract includes payment for better outcomes, patient satisfaction and good practice organisation.

Each practice will be able to earn £75,000 in 2004/05 (£120,000 in 2005/06) if they achieve all their quality targets, in areas such as better care of patients with cancer, asthma and diabetes.

New and upgraded hardware and software is needed to collect and analyse the data required to calculate practices' points totals. In November, the department allocated £20m to English primary care trusts to 'fund in full the cost of maintenance and minor upgrades of GP systems'.

Health minister John Hutton said: 'This additional funding will allow PCTs the flexibility to meet the full costs of maintenance and upgrades.'

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