The introduction of Personal Medical Services (PMS) in 1997 reflected a growing consensus that the nationally negotiated general medical services (GMS) system for contracting with GPs was too bureaucratic and did not always encourage GPs to innovate or contribute to the overall improvement of health and healthcare.
PMS pilots are an important part of the NHS modernisation programme. They aim to give commissioners flexibility to provide locally tailored primary care, and as such, are one of the few tools available for modernising primary care.
PMS pilots can be most effective where they link to the PCT's overall strategic intentions. These can include, for example, implementing national service frameworks (NSFs), improving the primary care infrastructure, reducing inequalities in provision and addressing recruitment or retention problems.
Overall, we found that many commissioners are only now beginning to understand and recognise the full potential of PMS and the flexibilities that it offers.
Included in this report:
- What are personal medical services (PMS)?
- What focus on PMS?
- Our work to date
- National take-up
- Establishing a PMS pilot
- Management and monitoring
- What should PCTs do?
- What should health authorities do?
- Department of Health assistant with PMS
- The future of GMS and PMS