It is ‘unlikely’ that all GPs at a practice will see a 6% pay increase from the 7.4% recommended uplift, accountant Tori Ferguson has warned.
“Any uplift to the global sum is welcome, of course, but the global sum is only one component of the income streams that fund a GP practice, and the other income streams will not be uplifted by similar percentage points,” Ferguson, tax manager at Honey Barrett, told NASGP.
“These uplifts come in a year where the national minimum living wage has already increased by a substantial 9.8% (for those over 21 years old).
“Furthermore, the recommended 6% uplift is intended to apply to practice staff, salaried GPs, and GP partners. Will an uplift of just over 7% to the global sum fund a 6% pay increase for all of these individuals? It will depend on the size of the practice and blend of staff, so the answer is ‘not necessarily’.
“So with these increases to staff costs, and other outgoings such as energy costs (generally) remaining extremely high, it could be more unlikely still that a 6% uplift on profits will filter through to GP partners.”
Andrew Pow, board member of the Association of Independent Specialist Medical Accountants, said: “Overall the Global Sum uplift will leave practices with improved budgets, but the DDRB award is unlikely to deliver the 6% uplift to contractor pay envisaged by the new government.”
The uplift has previously been criticised by the BMA, who said that the six percent uplift was ‘not enough’.
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, NASGP chair, said: “This is a timely reality check from Honey Barrett, taking in the bigger picture of the complexities of running any GP practice.
“When it comes to remunerating staff though, it’s important – and our practice colleagues already know this – to remember that clinical staff are not a commodity, we are not a cost; we are an investment.
“As our other story this week shows, GPs are already going above and beyond what they’re being paid for, demonstrating significant commitment and goodwill, and whilst this is entirely unsustainable in the long run, needs to be acknowledged when reviewing staff’s pay.”