Pension contributions are changing: what you need to know |
Your BMA membership no.: 0 |
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What’s new for sessional GPs |
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Welcome to this month’s newsletter from the sessional GPs committee |
The sessional GPs committee forms part of the BMA GPC (GPs committee); we provide national representation for all salaried and locum GPs. Our members come from a range of backgrounds and careers, and we use our knowledge and experience to speak up and fight for a better deal for sessional GPs across the UK. Find your local representative >
As a BMA member, you can access employment support from BMA advisers. If you feel the committee needs to be informed of a general issue, you can contact us via sessionalgps@bma.org.uk.
This newsletter goes out to sessional BMA members across the UK. Some of the items in this month's newsletter relate to all four nations, some may only be relevant to one nation; please make sure you read any items that are relevant to you.
With regards, |
Bethan Roberts Sessional GPs committee co-chair |
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Samira Anane Sessional GPs committee co-chair |
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As a GP, your pension is based on your total practitioner pensionable pay – not your pension contributions – therefore changes to the tiers do not affect the growth of your pension.
The previous rates have been in place for several years. However, they are changing following the BMA’s pension committee lobbying for fairer tiers for all GPs. The employee contribution tiers are being amended in phases, with the first change coming on 1 October 2022.
The changes mean the top rate of contribution has fallen initially to 13.5% and will then decrease to 12.5% next year. However, as the average contribution rate or yield has remained the same, this does unfortunately mean that some of the lower contribution tiers have increased.
These contribution rate changes are a step in the right direction to flattening the contribution rates and making it fairer for all. We continue to maintain that a tiered contribution structure is inappropriate, and the best way forward would be for the Government to consider a model in which all members pay a flat contribution rate. Further member contribution rate changes will be implemented in 2023; this is expected to be in October 2023, but the exact date is still to be confirmed by the Government.
View the old rates >
View the new rates >
For the period between 1 April 2022 and 30 September 2022, the previous rates will still apply. How do I calculate my tier?
- Locums need to annualise their pensionable pay to identify the correct tier
- Type 2 GPs need to double their pensionable pay for the period between 1 April 2022 and 30 September 2022 (you may need to annualise if your Type 2 role does not continue between these dates). You will need to carry out a similar exercise for the period 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.
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After the reversal of the 2017 and 2021 reforms to IR35, ‘off payroll’ regulations were initially announced as part of the Government’s September fiscal announcement; it’s expected that new chancellor Jeremy Hunt will abandon these plans, with the IR35 requirements set to remain as they currently are. However, given the recent changes in Government and upcoming budget announcement in November, we will be monitoring the situation and will publish further guidance should any changes be confirmed.
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You may have received communication from the GPC Wales team on 28 October confirming that the Welsh Government has agreed additional funding to award the 4.5% pay uplift to salaried GPs working in practices, as recommended by the Doctors and Dentists Review Body. While we were disappointed that it took so long to confirm the uplift for salaried GPs working in practices, we are pleased that it has finally been confirmed for all salaried GPs across Wales and that practices will be given additional funding to cover the increase. The uplift will be backdated to April 2022.
Salaried GPs employed by health boards already had their uplift agreed earlier this year and should have already received their backdated pay.
Please note as above, the pension contribution tiers changed on 1 October and are now based on actual pay rather than whole-time equivalent pay. Pay arrears are subject to the pension contribution tier that were applicable at the time the payment was due rather than when the payment is made.
The uplift goes a little way in recognising the valuable contribution made by salaried GPs in Wales, particularly over the past few years which have been very difficult for our profession. The sessional GPs committee will continue to work on our strategy as part of the wider BMA campaign on pay restoration and we will be making robust recommendations to the DDRB for 2023. If you have any thoughts on the matter, please get in touch with us >
The uplifts are automatically applied and backdated but if you experience any difficulties in receiving your uplift, please contact the BMA for assistance. Uplifts are not usually automatically applied to GPs working outside typical settings and we would encourage all GPs not working in practices nor directly employed by a health board to negotiate a similar uplift at their place of work. GPs working in OOH settings may find their local negotiating committee of help in negotiating an uplift to OOH pay.
The 4.5% uplift has already been agreed for salaried GPs working in England but has not yet been confirmed in Northern Ireland or Scotland. The sessional GPs committee continues to lobby for the uplift in Northern Ireland and in Scotland. |
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Responding to the recent health and social care committee report The future of general practice, Alicia Barnes, locum GP and sessional GPs committee representative for the West Midlands, gives her take on how the report refers to locums’ workload. Read the blog > |
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What are your views on the Health and Social Care committee report on the future of general practice?
- support all the recommendations
- support most of the recommendations
- support about half of the recommendations
- support less than half of the recommendations
- do not support any of the recommendations
- I haven't read the report
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A significant investment continues to be made into flexible staff pools, flexible workforce hubs and their associated digital frameworks. A word of caution about these pools.
GPs often take up locum work to enjoy greater autonomy, and control of their workload, work pattern and leave, with the understanding that they are giving up employment rights such as paid leave or paid CPD. Freelance locums customise their terms to reflect their experience and skill set, and will additionally customise their terms of engagement to the practice to reflect their confidence in the practice’s systems (for example, repeat prescribing) and support it provides. This customisation is crucial not only for working safely – it also makes it possible for locums to work in a range of practices with different levels of challenge and need.
Flexible pools are intended to connect locums to practices holding vacant shifts and reduce some of the costs to practices of the pre-employment checks. Unfortunately, we are seeing them used also to keep down locum fees and imposing standardised terms and conditions across all their locums. They combine the worst of both worlds, described as ‘bogus self-employment’: no security and no autonomy. For a fuller account of the pitfalls of working through platforms, read our recent blog on this. Our locum handbook also contains our guidance on locum banks and alternative support systems such as locum chambers.
Locums will also want to consider whether their freedom is in any way constrained in the platform. There is no requirement for either locums or practices to engage with each other through a flexible pool / digital bank, even if having a digital locum bank in place is a requirement at the ICS level.
The bottom line is, if you are looking to work as a locum, do not sign up to anything which takes away your autonomy to set your fees and your terms of engagement with practices. Working as a freelance locum does not have to feel any more risky or isolating than working through a platform. There are many means of accessing peer support via local groups, Facebook groups or forums, all of which can freely discuss and share locum fee rates and terms and conditions.
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Following the recent sad news of the suicide of Surrey GP partner Gail Milligan, it is timely to consider what factors are placing us all at risk and what active steps we can take to look after ourselves as GPs. Paula Wright has written a blog with helpful advice on some conversations that salaried GPs should consider having with their employers. Read the blog >
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Are you interested in improving working conditions for your peers? Do you want to represent sessional GPs in your region and help doctors across the UK? If so, being part of the BMA sessional GPs committee will give you this opportunity.
We are currently seeking a regional representative to join. Nominations are sought in a by-election for one member. You can be from any of these regional councils:
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- East Midlands
- East of England
- London
- North East
- North West
- Northern Ireland
- Scotland
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- South West
- South East Coast
- South Central
- Wales
- West Midlands
- Yorkshire and Humber*
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The committee has 16 elected members in total. Election counting rules are applied to ensure that a candidate is elected from each of the committee’s 13 regions.
*No nominations had been previously received from the Yorkshire and Humber region, so the committee would give priority to those nominating from that region.
If elected, candidates will take up their seats immediately and will serve for three BMA sessions, from 2022 to 2025 (sessions end at the beginning of the annual representative meeting, held in late June or early July each year).
You must be a BMA member to nominate in this election.
The deadline for nominations is 12pm, Wednesday 9 November. Voting will take place between 12pm, Thursday 10 November and 12pm, Thursday 17 November.
If you have any questions about the election process, please contact elections@bma.org.uk. For more information about the sessional GPs committee please visit our webpage or email sessionalgps@bma.org.uk.
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