ABSTRACT
General practitioners (GPs) are the foundation upon which the entire structure of National Health Service (NHS) is built, and as a united entity, GPs have the power to topple the structure. There are several professional bodies which can harness the collective power of GPs. At a local level, Local Medical Committee (LMC) represents the interests of GPs to NHS authorities. LMCs are well positioned to bring about change at both local and national levels, being small enough to remain responsive to the needs of those they represent locally but able to unite as a coalition to tackle national issues. The development of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) is the first time that GPs have been placed truly at forefront of commissioning, and they afford commissioners more autonomy to shape local services than previous forms of commissioning. Social media presents doctors with an opportunity to educate patients and influence public opinion which will ultimately dictate the direction in which services are taken.
