Right skills for the job

[mynytho]

Surely GPs have enough to do to keep up to date with changes in medical practices without being responsible for financial management. Just as not all good teachers make good headteachers, so not all GPs will have the skills to become good health managers. Will it be a case of those who shout loudest get the resources? Where will be the scrutiny of the decisions they take.
WHo will be adderssing health inequalities? Will GPs simply employ redundant PCT staff to run it for them. I want my GP to be my doctor not my health service financial manager.

My GP's practice already employes a practice manager to deal with administration, freeing the medical staff up to do what they do best. They already have to shout loudest to get resources and be budget-conscious under the current system and the better organised ones tend to do best. As it will be made easier for patients to switch GPs (an overdue move given the number of threads on MN from people that have lousy GPs) the quality of decision-making will be ultimately judged by us.