GPs risk losses to foil private firms.

Derren Hayes

GPs are going head-to-head against private companies in the battle to run new services in under-doctored areas, even though they risk longer hours and running at a loss.

Despite concerns that GPs would be unwilling to take the financial risk of setting up practices from scratch, a number of practices and out-of-hours doctors have told PCTs they are interested in piloting the Government's Fairness in Primary Care Procurement (FPCP) programme in four areas.

Chris Locke, chief executive of Nottinghamshire LMC, which covers a pilot in Ashfield, said he feared GPs would have been put off bidding by the prospect of starting with a zero list size, 'but surprisingly they have made bids' he said. 'They were chancing their arm to a degree, but felt more confident as they put together a business plan.'

New services will be expected to be open at evenings and weekends and to offer a broader range of services in an effort to attract patients. Start-up costs will be provided by the Government but it is still unclear how they will generate an income.

This is the latest in a series of blows for the private sector and follows the announcement by new Health Secretary Alan Johnson of a slow-down in the development ...