Welcome to GP Frontline: by Martin Marshall

What a whirlwind the last few months – indeed two years – have been in general practice. It’s always been a varied and evolving career but the pandemic has tested our profession to its limits.

We moved straight out of some of the worst media vilification I’ve seen in 30 years of practice and into Omicron where you all stepped up, once again, to ensure the pandemic response was successful. And you did in droves; it was outstanding to see, a testament to your professionalism.

Then 2022 began and everyone has been talking about the future of general practice. It is, as the front cover of this edition of GP Frontline suggests, frustrating to see so many people coming up with ideas about the future of our specialty when they have so little understanding of what general practice does and apparently an unwillingness to listen to the profession.

One idea that has been mooted several times is that of ‘nationalising’ general practice. What is meant by that is removing the independent contractor status that general practices have, and all GPs becoming directly employed by the NHS.

If people are looking for a ‘radical’ solution, then this is certainly one. But there’s no point in making radical change for the sake of it. The partnership model of general practice is founded on GPs’ goodwill, their understanding of their communities and their instinct to innovate in the best interests of patients.

Without it, would we have seen the truly remarkable efforts of GPs and their teams to roll out the Covid vaccination scheme – and not to forget, two expanded flu vaccination schemes – with such efficiency, success and out-of-the-box thinking? I doubt it.

General practice is the bedrock of the NHS, and the ‘partnership model’ is the bedrock of general practice. The salaried model complements the partnership model. When other models of care are introduced in the best interests of local populations – as many have been – that’s great and we should learn lessons where appropriate, and replicate successes where appropriate. We’re open to working differently.

Being opposed to so called ‘nationalisation’ of the profession is not about being resistant to change, it’s questioning the change of a model that works well for patients and the NHS, just for the sake of ‘being radical’.

Politicians and decision makers will, of course, talk to the College, the BMA and other bodies representing GPs and the wider NHS, as they decide what the future holds – you can read more about my appearance at the Health and Social Care Committee on p7. My plea to them is to listen. •