Welcome to this issue of BJPCN. I find myself, rather like a modern-day Scrooge, worrying about how we will face the next financially challenging years in the NHS. The Government has recently announced a pay freeze for GPs, and Lawrence Buckman, chair of the BMA’s GP Committee, warns that this affects not just doctors but all of the members of the teams they work with. This will put pressure on primary care teams, which can spill into day-today interaction with each other and with patients. How can we ensure that the quality of patient care is maintained throughout these tough times?
