"Jeremy Hunt says he wants GPs to take back out-of-hours responsibility (Out of GPs' hands, Society, 5 June). I have written to him twice asking for his support in City and Hackney. He didn't answer my first letter. He said we could tender for the contract like any other provider in response to my second letter. We have heard him repeatedly state over the last few weeks that GPs taking ownership of out-of-hours care is the way forward to provide safe and effective care for patients out of core GP opening hours. Our clinical commissioning group have been told they cannot "legally" make the decision to give our newly formed social enterprise a contract to do this, although it is the preferred option for the GPs and residents of City and Hackney. In spite of the secretary of state saying that CCGs will be able to decide how they procure services, the contract has to go out to open tender, the costs of which are prohibitive to social enterprises. The law requires it. So if he thinks this is the way forward, why doesn't he legislate to make it possible? Otherwise all his words are empty.
Deborah Colvin
GP, Hackney"
And one other letter...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jun/05/gps-out-of-hours-care