GP Surgeries

[evenflow]

How do NHS GP surgeries "earn" money? Presumably the government pays the wages of the doctors and admin staff - so why is it in a surgery's interest to actually attract more patients to the practise? For example, why would a surgery want a website - patients come to them anyway and a website won't exactly attract new "business"?

[Justayellowbadge]

Really?

[silverthorn2151]

I always assummed they get a standing payment per patient. More patients, more dosh.

[evenflow]

silverthorn2151 said:

I always assummed they get a standing payment per patient. More patients, more dosh.

Ah, that would make sense. Anyone know if this is the case?

[Road2Ruin]

Yes it is. Or was. I used to be an auditor for the East Suffolk Health Authority and apart fro the per head payment the surgery gets (there is a maximum) there was also the opportunity of getting further enhancements that come with a large client base, ie more call outs, non NHS work like medical certificates for work etc.

[Bluebarge]

Plus they get bonuses for the number of "healthchecks" and other latest NHS gimmick they perform, plus private prescriptions for holiday jabs etc, etc.

There's a reason most GP's are on a £100k + pa you know (and a reason the NHS is always short of cash).