 Changes come into effect in April |
Some Welsh GPs are angry that they still have not received their new contracts - which run from the beginning of next month. The deal agreed with the NHS last year will mean a major change in the way general practices are funded and organised, along with pay increases which could see some GPs earning as much as �80,000 a year.
For the first time, a large proportion of GP pay will be linked to the quality of care he or she provides.
But some doctors are claiming that delays in sending out the new contracts mean they will not have time to read them thoroughly before signing them.
Surgeries are meant have the documents signed and returned to their local health board before 1 April - which is less than three weeks away.
The Welsh Assembly Government has admitted that not all individual contracts have been completed yet. However, it says it does not expect major problems in achieving the deadline.
But some doctors fear they will have so little time to digest the contracts that they may be forced to sign something which they have not read properly or understood.
The Welsh Assembly Government says there is a default contract available which can be signed if, for any reason, full contracts cannot be completed.
That, however, is something GPs are keen to avoid.
GPs across the UK voted to accept the new NHS contract last June.
According to the British Medical Association, 79% of GPs who took part in the nationwide ballot backed the deal.
The introduction of the contract will lead to major changes in GP practices across the UK from April next year.
GPs will no longer have to provide care to patients after their surgery closes Primary care organisations will take over responsibility for providing out-of-hours care GP surgeries will be open from 0800 to 1830 Monday to Friday - some longer GPs will be able to opt out of providing certain services, such as immunisation clinics or contraception, if they are overstretched GPs will be able to offer additional services, such as specialist clinics, normally only available in hospitals Practices will be expected to employ additional nurses and other staff who will be used to free up GPs' time Spending on general practice will rise by 33% over the next three years, totalling �8bn by 2006 The way money is allocated to primary care will change - in future, practices with the sickest patients will get the most money and money will be allocated per practice rather than per GP as at present GPs will be able to apply for extra money available to fund more specialist services in primary care 
One-Minute World News 
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