GMS and PMS are the main contracting services under primary care contracting for the General practitioners in the United Kingdom . As we read more about the GMS and PMS issues, one is at cross roads to understand the fundamental differences between the two contract provisions. In this article, Dr Shahida Parveen Azeez summarises the differences between the two contracts. In this article GMS relates to nGMS, the GMS contract in force since 2004.
GMS |
PMS |
NHS Act: Services are provided under Part 2 of the NHS Act 1977 |
Services are provided under Part 1 of the NHS Act 1977 |
Contract: NHS contract or a private law contract between the PCO and the practice.
(Red book payments+ contract) |
Contract: Contract ( provision of a set of services which are specified in the actual contract itself ) locally agreed and negotiated between the GP and the local bodies. |
Patients: Patients will register with the practice and not with the individual GP. |
Patients: Patients will register with the individual GP and not the practice. |
Services: A greater range of services for patients. |
Services: Choice of services restricted to what the GP has negotiated under the PMS contract. |
Rewards: Payment by result . nGMS contract rewards practices more appropriately for delivering quality in both their clinical work and in how they are organised.
|
Rewards: Restricted to the contract negotiated.
|
Pensions : OOH coops and locums are pensionable |
Pensions : Not all work is pensionable |
OOH: Can opt out |
OOH: GP's were responsible. |
Quality rewards: Quality work is rewarded |
Quality rewards: Quality work is not rewarded |
Loss of income : No loss of income if GP leaves |
Loss of income: Loss of income if GP leaves(It takes time to replace the old GP with the new one who can provide the same services). |
Practice Population demographics: Accounted for ( It caters to all the segments of the population) |
Practice Population demographics: Not Accounted for (It may not cater to all the segments of the population) |
