GPs facing ‘David versus Goliath’ battle to provide out of hours care

GPs who want to run out of hours services in their local areas should be awarded contracts without facing a ‘David versus Goliath’ struggle with large private companies, according to the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). The report says the regulations for awarding contracts should be clarified, and legislative changes made if necessary, to enable practices or groups of practices to take back their out of hours service without having to go through a competitive tender. GPs were able to opt out of providing out of hours care as part of the 2004 GP contract, but out of hours