The National Association of Non Principals is holding its inaugural Conference on the 24th & 25th October at the Jarvis International Hotel and Conference Centre, Norwich. The programme includes education, politics and fun, for a traditionally disenfranchised group of doctors from all areas of the UK.

Non Principals are those fully trained doctors working in general practice who are not part of a partnership. Hitherto effectively ignored by the medical establishment, it is estimated that Non-Principals constitute an astounding 7,500 GPs in the UK i.e. 20% of the entire general practice workforce. This traditionally disenfranchised group of doctors includes those working as locums, assistants, associates and retainers – in fact, any fully qualified GP who is not a partner.

Working on the whole independently yet within the NHS, these GPs have traditionally been excluded from the NHS pension scheme (self employed non-principals are the only workers in the NHS who are not entitled to contribute to the NHS superannuation scheme), from democratic representation from the BMA and adequate access to and provision of continuing professional development.

The National Association of Non Principals (NASGP) was founded in January 1997, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Richard Fieldhouse, to provide both a voice within the medico-political forum for these doctors and a national network for inter-professional support. "The formation of the NASGP has filled a void for many GPs, based on a foundation of local groups, regular contact through our newsletter and a greater sense of professional identity."

Much has been achieved in one short year; all the important players in the medico-political arena now actively seek out Non-Principals’ views on a wide range of issues. Indeed, the GPC (General Practitioners’ Committee) of the BMA now has its own Non-Principals subcommittee and the NHS Executive includes the NASGP in the groups involved in consultations surrounding their plans for “The New NHS”.

So why does the NASGP need a conference? Since its inception, the NASGP has striven to represent all Non-Principals, in an open, accountable way. With this in mind, the present Council will stand down at the forthcoming conference and a new democratically elected Council will take its place.

More important than this, the Conference will provide a forum for Non-Principals to meet, not only for education purposes, but also for mutual support. “Being a Non principal can be a very isolating experience,” said Dr Tina Ambury, self-employed locum in Lincolnshire. "I recently re-located to Lincolnshire from the North of Scotland and it was only through the NASGP that I was able to find other Non-Principals in my area”. The Conference is the only forum specifically catering for Non-Principals.

Dr Peter Harvey, Executive Conference Organiser says, “I've been overwhelmed by both our members' interest and the generous support of our sponsors. With over 15% of NASGP members attending, from all over the UK, the conference will be the biggest ever gathering of Non-Principal GPs”.

As we approach our third year, we are moving towards a closer relationship with our colleagues and patients by setting out a framework for the inclusion of Non-Principals in the processes and structures of the NHS. Only through this do we believe that the NHS will survive it's delivery in to the new millennium.