FAQ: What is the GP SOLO form and what’s it for?

Form GP SOLO is used for fee-based ad-hoc work.

• Form GP SOLO (England and Wales)
• Form GP SOLO (Scotland) – For use from April 2015.
• Form GP SOLO (Northern Ireland) – For use from April 2013

Types of work for SOLO forms

The types of work it covers (this list is for England and Wales, so check for your area of the UK):

• Salaried GPs employed by a Practice, PCT, LHB, or Trust who are working on an individual basis (and not on behalf of their employer) under a fee-based contract-for-services arrangement with an NHS Pension Scheme Employing Authority.
• GP locums who regularly work for an Out of Hours Provider that is an Employing Authority.
• GPs who work solely for an Out of Hours Provider and have no other pensionable posts.
• GP fee-based ad hoc work such as appraisal work.

The form GP SOLO must be completed by the GP and the ‘fringe’ NHS Employer and sent to the GP’s host PCT/LHB on a monthly basis. However, it is acceptable for only one form GP SOLO to be completed a year (summarising the annual earnings) subject to the contributions still being paid on a monthly basis.

The form GP SOLO must not be used if a GP Provider elects to ‘pension’ their fringe NHS earnings through the Practice account (i.e. pooled income) or if they are employed under a formed contract of employment with a Practice, PCT, LHB, or Trust.

GP locums working for an out-of-hours (OOH) partnership

GP locums working for an OOH partnership (OOHP) that is a NHSPS Employing Authority ‘pension’ their OOH income in the same way as s salaried GP would; that is, by completing form SOLO.

The OOHP is responsible for the payment of employer contributions at the rate of 14% and for collecting the employee contributions. The earnings must NOT be recorded on forms GP Locum A and B.

• Where a GP locum is performing pensionable OOHs work the PCT and LHB will set them up as a type 2 medical practitioner Scheme member.
• This means that the GP will have two concurrent pensionable posts; Locum Practitioner plus type 2 medical practitioner.
• There has to be a distinction under the NHSPS Regulations.

Where a GP locum (Locum Practitioner) is also a type 2 medical practitioner it means that they can ‘pension’ appraisal income on form SOLO. Their income is in effect added to their OOHs income by the PCT/LHB.