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Following on from the December announcement from Wes Streeting, some details of the funding has come out finally. The 2025-2026 General Medical Services (GMS) contract introduces significant changes aimed at modernizing general practice in England, enhancing patient access, and improving working conditions for General Practitioners (GPs). This agreement, reached between the government and the British Medical Association (BMA), marks the first contract consensus in four years, signalling a pivotal shift in primary care.

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...

Introduction   As the landscape of general practice continues to evolve, many GPs are exploring portfolio careers, allowing them to diversify their professional experience. One such avenue is occupational health, a field that focuses on the relationship between health and work. Here’s a guide on how you can transition into occupational health as a portfolio GP. 

In a pivotal move that could reshape the landscape of primary care in the UK, Local Medical Committee (LMC) leaders are poised to vote on a highly contentious motion concerning the role of Physician Associates (PAs) in General Practitioner (GP) practices. The motion, which has sparked intense debate among healthcare professionals, seeks to "condemn" the utilization of PAs for any tasks beyond "administrative or simple procedural duties."

In a resounding vote of no confidence, GPs in England have overwhelmingly rejected the proposed contract changes for 2024/25. The British Medical Association (BMA) held a referendum, with a turnout of over 61% and a staggering 99.2% of participating GPs voting "no" to the contract. 

The recent unveiling of the revised GP contract by NHS England has sent shockwaves through the healthcare community, igniting a fierce debate. While some elements of the contract have garnered cautious acceptance, the British Medical Association's General Practitioners Committee (BMA GPC) has expressed strong disapproval of several key points, raising concerns about the potential impact on patient care, workload management, and the overall sustainability of primary care.

The Type 2 NHS Pension Scheme Self-Assessment Form is a critical document for salaried GPs, solo practitioners, and locum providers to accurately report their earnings and contributions to the NHS pension scheme. The 2022-2023 form deadline is upcoming, so I thought a guide might be useful for those struggling to complete it.

The ever-evolving landscape of primary care finds itself at a crossroads when it comes to the role of Physician Associates (PAs). While some hail them as indispensable allies in tackling the physician shortage and improving access to care, others express concerns about potential compromises to quality and the dilution of the doctor-patient relationship. Examining both sides of this debate reveals a complex picture, demanding nuanced solutions rather than simplistic pronouncements.

The proposed 1.9% uplift to the GMS contract in England has ignited concerns within the general practice community, raising critical questions about its impact on both financial sustainability and patient care. Examining the details of this offer and its potential ramifications reveals a complex scenario with far-reaching consequences. 

Beneath the apparent calm of the UK's National Health Service, a low rumble of discontent vibrates between two pillars of primary care: general practitioners (GPs) and the wave of new roles funded by the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS). While both share the noble goal of serving patients, they find themselves on opposing sides of an evolving landscape, where questions of territory, training, and the very definition of "good care" spark ongoing skirmishes.

Working as a General Practitioner with a Special Interest in Vasectomies  Vasectomy is a surgical procedure that sterilizes a man by blocking the vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the urethra. It is a permanent form of contraception and is one of the most common surgical procedures performed on men. General practitioners (GPs) with a special interest in vasectomies have additional training and experience in performing this procedure. They can provide patients with information about the procedure, answer their questions, and perform the vasectomy safely and effectively. 

The recent announcement of a substantial increase in the minimum wage (up to £11.44 from £10.42) has sent shockwaves through the healthcare sector, particularly among GP partners. While this move aims to uplift the lives of low-income workers, it could inadvertently jeopardize the financial stability of general practices, threatening the very foundation of primary care in the United Kingdom.

Working as a General Practitioner with a Special Interest in Sports Medicine  General practitioners (GPs) with a special interest in sports medicine are doctors who have additional training and experience in treating and preventing sports-related injuries and illnesses. They work with athletes of all ages and abilities, from recreational weekend warriors to professional athletes. GPs with a special interest in sports medicine have a broad range of skills and knowledge. They can diagnose and treat a wide range of sports-related injuries, including muscle strains and sprains, ligament tears, bone fractures, and concussions. They can also provide advice on preventing injuries, improving performance, and recovering from injuries. In addition to their clinical work, many GPs with a special interest in sports medicine are also involved in teaching and research. They may work as part of a sports medicine team at a university or professional sports organization. They may also conduct re...

Working as a General Practitioner with a Special Interest in Aesthetic Medicine  Aesthetic medicine is a branch of medicine that focuses on improving the appearance of the skin and body. General practitioners (GPs) with a special interest in aesthetic medicine have additional training and experience in performing non-invasive and minimally invasive aesthetic procedures. They can help patients to achieve their aesthetic goals, while also ensuring that their safety and well-being are paramount. 

The global sum for GP practices in England has been increased from £102.28 to £104.73 per patient, in order to finance a 6% staff uplift. This is roughly a 2.4% increase. Negotiations between the Department of Health and Social Care and the British Medical Association (BMA) concluded last week, and the BMA's GP Committee said they had done so 'satisfactorily'. The global sum is a fixed amount of money that GP practices receive per patient registered with them. It makes up the majority of a practice's income, and is used to fund all aspects of primary care, including staff costs, premises, and equipment.

On the GP social media, locum GPs are angry that they are unable to find jobs because other allied healthcare professionals are undercutting them. Locum GPs are fully qualified GPs who work on a temporary basis, and they are often used to fill gaps in the workforce when a GP is on leave or sick. However, in recent months, there has been a growing trend of allied healthcare professionals, such as nurse practitioners, paramedics and physician assistants, taking on GP roles.

Has the season of strikes ended? In the news, many professions have now ceased their strike action. Teachers have now accepted a 6.5% pay deal meaning they will not strike anymore. Nurses, paramedics and 999 call handlers accepted a 5% pay increase as well as a one off payment to end the strikes. The nurses were actually in favour of continuing to strike but the turn out for their ballot was too low to legally allow more striking. Firefighters didn't strike but they accepted a 7% backdated pay increase and 5% pay increase this year. 

Aging can cause normal things to look seemingly abnormal, and can make even experienced healthcare professionals fluster and worry, even those that see older people on a daily basis. The care home rounds are one of my highlights of the week, it breaks up the normal week and allows for the continuity of care that is sorely missing in primary care these days. We start with a morning coffee, or in my case Mocha, and I run though the list of patients to see with the nurse in charge. One of the patients was an elderly lady whom the nurses had noticed a lump on the right side of her groin. They wash and dress her and apparently had not seen it before. Wasn't causing her any issues but the carers seemed worried about a hernia.