A 10th of GPs on consortium boards are also on boards of private firms

A survey of almost half of all primary care trusts in England has shown that one in 10 GPs on the boards of the new commissioning consortiums are on boards of private firms.

Doctors’ leaders are concerned about possible conflicts of interests that GPs in consortiums might have over commissioning care for patients through services that might be on offer from private companies in which they have a role.

A survey by Pulse magazine collected data under the Freedom of Information Act, which included results from 73 primary care trusts about the pathfinder consortiums in their areas that are piloting the NHS reforms that will give consortiums …