Are GP Surgerys contracted to provide Hep innoculation and testing free of charge to NHS paitients, or is it varable from one surgery to another, or locality, ie does Herts have a generic contract which explicitly states to all GP surgerys that innoculation and testing is free, or does fall outside of contract and therefore at GPs dicrestion ?.

Presumably each location has a generic contract which includes specific interventions that must be provided, I am assuming this service is one of them, however different GPs are stating different things. Clarity would be wonderful.

many thanks

jimi

We work on the assumption that GPs should provide the services you describe to at risk patients under nGMS unless they have opted out of that part of the contract some single handed practices were allowed to do. Some vaccinations for at risk patients (like flu) are incentivised but that shouldn’t let practices escape their responsibilities in other areas. Perhaps you should check with your local PCT primary health care commisioners.

In the new self audit tool for DATs on primary care, that is about to be launched by the NTA, it says there is an expectation that all practices will be offereing this service within their general contract. However (and I hope this doesn't seem a cop out) it also said as an absolute minmum all practices involved in enhanced service delivery should be doing this.

My understanding of my contract is that we should be screening and immunising all patients at risk of hepatitis. All known users should be offered screening and vaccination/referral to ID units. I don't think this is an enhanced service and my belief is all practices should do this if patients request it or are known to be at risk. All practices providing substitute prescribing should be doing this as part of their enhanced service anyway.