Website of the Department of Health

• Last modified date:
  8 February 2007
• Gateway reference:
  7673

Background

Revisions to the general medical service (GMS) contract from 1 April 2006 include a reward for general practitioner (GP) practices, through a directed enhanced service (DES), for utilisation of the Choose and Book service and for delivering choice to patients.  

The full value of DES is 96 pence per registered patient and comprises two equal components, one for choice (48 pence) and one for Choose and Book (48 pence).

Half of the Choose and Book component is available as an aspiration payment to those GP practices who make a written commitment to utilising the Choose and Book system. The other half will be payable on a sliding scale if referrals (converted UBRNs) through Choose and Book reach at least 50 per cent in the period 1 September 2006 to 28 February 2007. 

The Choice and Booking DES was announced by the NHS Employers Organisation, as part of the announcement about the changes to the GMS contract from 1 April. David Colin Thome, National Clinical Director for Primary Care, wrote to all GPs on 27 February 2006 and 25 August 2006 to alert them to the DES, and to remind them of the requirements that they need to meet to achieve payment.