GP TechLead

The announcement by Wes Streeting to pump an extra £889 million a year into primary care is big news for GPs and patients alike. As a GP Partner, I can’t help but feel a mix of cautious optimism and skepticism about the whole thing. 

 The BMA’s Push for a 20% Pay Rise for Salaried GPs: What Does It Mean? The British Medical Association (BMA) recently proposed a 20% pay rise for salaried GPs starting next year. This bold request reflects growing concerns about the recruitment and retention of GPs, as well as the increasing pressures on primary care. But how realistic is this proposal, and how much funding is the government likely to provide to support it?

The recent increase in employer National Insurance (NI) contributions in the Autumn budget is creating serious challenges for GP partnerships in the UK. To understand why, it helps to look at how GP practices work and how they manage their money. What Are GP Partnerships? Most GP practices in the UK are run as partnerships rather than companies. This means the doctors who own the practice share both the profits and the responsibilities. These GP partners are in charge of paying for the staff, running the practice, and handling costs like employer NI contributions. Unlike employees, the partners take on personal financial risk to keep the practice running. What Is Changing with NI Contributions? The government has raised employer NI contributions from 13.8% to 15% . At the same time, the income threshold for paying NI has been lowered, which means more salaries are affected. This means GP practices will have to pay more for every staff member they employ, including receptionists, nurse...