Salaried
GPs
An increasing number of GPs have expressed a
preference for salaried contracts. The global sum gives
practices new flexibility to appoint salaried
staff. PCOs, with the new opportunity of direct provision, can now offer a salaried option. This document focuses
on GPs employed by GMS practices and by PCOs. In the future there will be the
opportunity to work as a salaried
GP for an Alternative Provider of Medical Services (APMS).
Who is a salaried GP?
The term "salaried GP" can be used to
describe any GP who is employed by a practice, a PCO or an Alternative
Providers Medical Services (APMS).
It includes the following: Assistants, Associates, GP
Retainees, Flexible Career Scheme GPs, Returner Scheme GPs.
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This
guidance note has been produced by the General Practitioners Committee to
help LMCs, GPs, practice managers and PCTs understand the new model terms and
conditions for salaried GPs, which came into effect under the nGMS contract .
It is one of a series of guidance notes on the new contract. We would advise all GPs to read the contract
document and supporting documentation, available on the BMA website at www.bma.org.uk This guidance aims to provide you with some background to the issues
that you will need to be thinking about & supply some answers to problems
that may arise - Guidance as PDF |
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The job plan is the document that translates
expectations of employee and employer into a working schedule. It ensures
that the post delivers its aims and the requirements of the contract of
employment are met, including provision for CPD. Contents
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Model terms and
conditions of service for a Salaried General Practitioner employed by a GMS
Practice – Link
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Model offer
letter for the employment of a Salaried General Practitioner by a Practice to
Provide Primary Medical Services - Link
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Primary Care Development Scheme New guidance released on
the DoH website - link On 31st
March 2005 the Golden Hello Scheme in GPC - Guidance to LMCs on
the New Primary Care Development Scheme - 26 August 2005 The GPC
previously agreed with the Health Department that the Golden Hello scheme
should be revised to target under-doctored areas, and our negotiations for a
revised scheme (which began in the autumn of 2004) were completed earlier
this year – Local Copy |
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"Model Terms and Conditions of
Service for a Salaried General
Practitioner employed by a GMS Practice" These are set out in schedule 6, part 4, paragraph 63 of
the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2004 (Statutory Instrument 2004, number 291) – Local
Copy of full Regulations |
Negotiating your salary - Guidance for salaried GPs - August
2003 (updated June 2004)
Download this guidance as PDF
GPs
employed by GMS practices and by Primary Care Organisations since 1 April 2004
The minimum terms and conditions of service for GPs employed
by GMS practices and Primary Care Organisations (PCOs) since 1 April 2004 have
been agreed between the GPC, NHS Confederation and Health Departments. These
minimum terms and conditions are set out in the model contract on the GPC website. Under the agreement, employers can offer improved, but not less
favourable, terms and conditions.
Similarly, a minimum salary range for GPs employed by a GMS
practice or a Primary Care Organisation has been recommended by the Doctors'
and Dentists' Review Body (DDRB) and agreed by the Government. The basic
minimum salary range in 2004-2005 is £47,710 to £72,478 – you must not be paid
less than this range. However, you can be paid more and there is no upper
limit. Your exact salary is a matter for negotiation between yourself and your
employing authority (i.e. the practice or PCO). You may wish to seek advice on
the negotiating process from your LMC and/or your local BMA office (if you are
a BMA member).
GPs
employed by GMS practices and by Primary Care Organisations before 1 April 2004
Whether the model contract applies to those already employed
before 1 April 2004 is currently being discussed with the NHS Confederation.
The model contract and minimum salary range could still be used as a basis for
your salary negotiations.
GPs
employed by PMS practices
PMS salaried GPs can use the basic minimum pay range as a
basis for negotiating their own salary. Similarly, PMS salaried GPs can use the
model minimum terms and conditions of service for salaried GPs employed by a
GMS practice or a Primary Care Organisation as a basis for negotiating their
own contract.
Factors
to consider when negotiating your salary
The following factors may influence your salary:
- the length of your previous NHS service (this includes
hospital based work)
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the length of your previous GMS and
PMS service (this includes work as a GP locum, GP principal, GP retainer,
flexible career scheme GP, salaried GP, etc)
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the type of work which you have
previously undertaken
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your qualifications (such as MRCGP)
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the type of work which you will be
required to undertaken in the salaried GP post
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the hours of work of the post
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whether you will be required to work
any additional sessions, for example to cover absent colleagues or possible
teaching sessions or to attend practice meetings if held outside your normal
working hours
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whether you will be required to
undertaken any out-of-hours work
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whether mileage incurred whilst
working is taken into account
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whether additional expenses incurred
by you are taken into account, for example medical defence organisation
subscriptions, BMA and/or RCGP membership fees, use of mobile phone whilst
working
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whether your employer pays your LMC
levy payments
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whether you will receive paid study
leave
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market forces (i.e. the demand for
salaried GPs in the area, as well as the supply of potential salaried GPs)
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the cost of living in the area.
You should also consider how your incremental salary
progression will be calculated. In addition, you should ensure that your
contract of employment states that you will receive an annual increment based
on, for example, the annual DDRB uplift for GPs or hospital consultants'
progression scale.
Given that every GP has different experience and every post
is different, it is impossible for us to advise you on the exact salary that
you can expect to achieve. We would though strongly advise you not to undersell
yourself and to weigh up different offers before making your final decision. As
stated above, the salary of full-time GPs employed by a GMS practice or a PCO
must not be below, but can be above, the basic salary range. We recommend that
PMS salaried GPs also do not accept less than this basic minimum salary.
The above information is reproduced
from the GPC web site: www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/negotiatingsalary
A complete consolidation of the above
items can also be found at: http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/__Hubsalariedgps
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 January 2006
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