CYP Now - Opinion: Debate - Should GPs be paid extra for doing child protection work?

A Lincolnshire GP says doctors' child protection work should be funded by primary care trusts to encourage them to get more involved. GPs are often unable to make case conferences because they have to fund locum cover themselves.

NO - ALASTAIR HENDERSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NHS EMPLOYERS

Child protection and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children is an essential and core part of the work of a GP. We would not expect, and we do not think patients would expect, GPs to be paid extra for carrying out child protection work.

However, there are some GPs who have a special interest in child protection who work with their local primary care trust and child protection team.

They carry out specific work on child protection and are paid extra accordingly.

YES - ANDREW MOWAT, NAMED DOCTOR FOR CHILD PROTECTION, LINCOLNSHIRE

The way GPs are paid is set up to give recognition and credit to services that are commissioned, so we are conducting research into child protection also being a service. This would provide the means to improve the standard of care. Area child protection committees provide training, but GPs need to pay for locum cover to attend it, and to cover the absence of other staff to see patients.

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