The National Association of Non-Principals has been inundated with reports from our members about the active exclusion of non-principals from the processes and structures of many Primary Care Groups (PCGs). This is because many shadow PCGs have wrongly interpreted the government White Paper "The New NHS", and it's subsequent guidance HSC 139/1998, to not have included non-principals in to the term "GP".

We have now obtained clarification from the Department of Health about this situation, and they have confirmed that "The term 'GP'…is a generic term which refers to all GP principals, non-principals, salaried GPs and GPs supplying personal medical services working within primary care".

On the subject of the membership and voting processes of the PCG, the reply said, "Local GPs…will decide how to elect GP Board members". "The election process should ensure that all GPs are represented…All local GPs involved within primary care are able to put themselves forward for election to their PCG board".

We are now writing to all of our 65 affiliated non-principal groups with this information, and will suggest that those non-principals who have previously applied to join a local PCG but had been turned down should re-apply. If a further refusal is forthcoming, we will suggest that individuals write to the NASGP, whereby we will pass this information on to the Department of Health.

Richard Armstrong, the NHSE's PCG Implementation Manager, said, "Non-principals are an important, if not vital, element of the clinical workforce whose contribution needs to be recognised. We believe that those Groups most likely to succeed will be those who learn to work with, use and develop this flexible and adaptable resource."

Dr Richard Fieldhouse, NASGP chairman, said, "Membership of PCGs is of especial significance to non-principals. PCG Boards will be taking on the responsibility of clinical governance for all their GPs, and thus it will be through this mechanism only that non-principals will be able to be accountable for their own continuing medical education".