Recently I read Dr Heather McNamee’s excellent opinion piece, ‘GPs are facing extinction: it’s time for a rebellion‘, and I agree — general practice needs a significant shake-up.

One thing it’s time to question is the contractor model of general practice.

I believe it’s an important reason why junior doctors are not attracted to general practice, and it contributes to resentment and burnout by those in the profession.

The independent contractor model — where a doctor pays a percentage of billings as a service fee for provision of premises, administration and so on — has often been a sacred cow that many in the profession say must remain the cornerstone of general practice.