2004

What's Old

16/12/2004
Latest NHS Pensions Agency 'Technical Newsletter' clarifies superannuation funding

The latest Newsletter TN15-2004 has been issued by the NHS Pensions Agency stating current intentions and entitlements regarding superannuation of GPs. This "Technical Newsletter" is, well, a little technical...but don't let that put you off reading as the information clearly explains the current position and may even allay some of your fears and clarify problems you may have been having with your PCT.

We've produced a breakdown of the important bits from TN15-2004 for you here...

Sessional GP Summary of TN15-2004

17/09/2004
So you want to be a Salaried GP?

Of all the correspondence we receive from members, the vast majority is from dissatisfied Salaried GPs. It’s not that they don’t like the job or the patients or the staff - it’s because, for want of a better word, they’re being shafted by their employers.

And that’s why the NASGP is now advising any GP taking up a salaried GP post - and every practice who’s employing a salaried GP - to use the Model Terms and Conditions of Service for a Salaried GP

more...

01/07/2004
Who Pays for Sessional GP Appraisal

Not 'new' news, but just managed to get some clarification.

In short, its your PCT - see our Frequently Asked Questions section.

After what can only be described as a few quiet months for the NANP, we've now been reborn as the NASGP - National Association of Sessional GPs. Complete with a new site, new url (www.nasgp.org.uk) and new logo.

You can rest easy - GP locums will NOT have to pay the employer's contribution from 1st April 2004. The NASGP were informed 2 weeks ago a document that inferred that this was to be the case, but it soon transpired after urgent discussions with GPC negotiators that the NHS Pensions Agency had made a mistake and had inadvertently included the paragraph in the final document.

The BMA has advised the NASGP that if any PCT remains under the false impression that GP locums will have to pay the employer's contribution, please "refer these PCTs to Paul Robinson and Ross Mathieson at the NHS Pensions Agency, or William Urry at the Department of Health, all of whom are fully aware of what was agreed last week."

The NASGP has spent the last 4 days liaising with the BMA, GPC negotiators and NHSPA over a letter sent in error - or possibly leaked? - to some LMCs and PCTs. The DRAFT letter stated that freelance GPs working in GMS practices would, from 1st April 2004, have to charge these practices an additional 14% to cover the employers contribution for their superannuation - previously a 7% employers contribution was added by the freelance GP's PCT after the PCT received the Locum Form B

GPC negotiators have reassured the NASGP that they immediately rejected this wording and, according the the NHS Pensions Agency website, their latest advice DOES NOT include this new wording. Phew!

HOWEVER, some PCTs (Camden) have already written to their NPs today assuming the former to be true. NASGP have therefore notified the GPC negotiators about this and they have now received a copy of this letter today from NASGP so, hopefully, this can all be pulled back into perspective on Monday.

The term 'Non-Principal' has never been popular - it's a negative definition, describing what we are not rather than what we are. Unfortunately, the term 'Non-Principal' can be used without the qualifying term 'GP', whereas 'Sessional', in order to describe such GPs, must be qualified with the term 'GP'. NASGP council feels that "Sessional GP" is a more acceptable collective term for GPs who do not traditionally work as GP principals or their equivalent.

We have therefore decided - subject to the approval of our members - to cease using the term “Non-Principal” and instead use the term “Sessional GP”.

We'd very much like your opinion in this and will be very grateful if you can vote on the doctors.net.uk discussion forum. If our members accept this change, NASGP council will begin the process of changing our name in March to the National Association of Sessional GPs (NASGP).

And in future, if you agree, we plan to cease referring to the term "Locum" for self-employed non-principals (i.e. Sessional GPs) and instead adopt the term "Freelance GP" - we'll be asking for you to vote on this one at a later date!