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Q & A - Financial
Index
FN511 - Seniority and average superannuable income 2005-6
FN510 - Global sum 2005-6
FN509 – Charitable funds
FN508 - Solo form
FN507 - Limited liability company
FN506 - Private practice
FN505 - Golden Hello
FN504 - Locum pay rates
FN503 - Fee for coroner’s report
FN502 - QOF payments
FN501 - Charging for travel advice
Q FN511 - Seniority and average superannuable income 2005-6 – Can you tell me what the average superannuable income for 2005/6 is as I
would like to find out my seniority entitlement? New 07/07
Answer – The revised rate, which is applicable from April 1st 2005, rises from £75,000 to
£80,940 for 2005-6.
Pensionable pay Seniority entitlement
£53,960 + 100%
£26,980 -53,960 60%
£26,980 - 0
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Q FN510 - Global sum 2005-6 - What is the new global sum?
New 07/07
Answer - The new global sum figure of £54.72 came into effect on 1st April 2005.
This consists of;
£54 ‘pure’ global sum
£0.26 contribution to contractor’s appraisee costs
(previously known as ‘appraisal premium’)
£0.46 contribution negotiated with GPC to cover increase in
employer superannuation contributions from 7-14%
(previously paid as ‘superannuation premium’ )
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Q FN509 – Charitable funds - Do you know of any source of financial assistance for GPs who require help as a result of ill health?
New 23/06
Answer -The Cameron Fund was set up for doctors who are or have
been general practitioners, and for their dependants. It offers confidential help in times of poverty, hardship or distress. The Fund aims to meet the needs of its beneficiaries in the fullest and most
practical ways possible.
If you are seeking help for yourself, your family or someone you know, you should contact the Fund’s Secretary at;
The Cameron Fund,
Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HR
Tel: 020 7388 0796.
Email: secretary@cameronfund.org.uk
A preliminary telephone call to the secretary in complete confidence will establish whether the fund may be able to provide assistance and
how to proceed with your application.
The Charities Trust Fund is run by the BMA and acts as an umbrella trust,
receiving donations on behalf of all doctors’ charities, not just the BMA Charities. This includes the Cameron Fund.
The trustees welcome donations at any time, particularly in the form of Gift Aid and bequests. They may be sent to;
The Secretary, BMA Charities,
BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP
Tel: 020 7383 6334.
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Q FN508 - Solo form - I am a salaried doctor working in a practice and quite separately do a few OOH sessions. I understand I must use
a SOLO form to record these sessions for superannuation purposes. Where can I obtain one of these? New 16/05
Answer - You should be able to get the SOLO form from your PCT or
alternatively you can download it from the following link:
http://www.nhspa.gov.uk/GPCompletionForms/GPSOLO.pdf
JS
Q FN507 - Limited liability company – I am trying to find out about forming a limited liability company. Can you advise me please?
New 10/05
Answer - Under GMS2 it is possible for a limited liability company to
hold a contract with the PCT. However, this is a very complex area and we are unable to advise you on these matters. You would require expert legal and financial advice before making any irrevocable
decisions.
Jacqueline Sherrif of Cambridgeshire LMC prepared this excellent research on Limited liability partnerships and companies which may
help inform your preliminary thinking.
Also see BMA advice (log in to BMA site necessary) on Limited liability partnership (LLP)
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Q FN506 - Private practice - I am interested to start providing private services. Where can I find out more about this? New 10/05
Answer – The best comprehensive advice that we know of is on the
BMA website. You must log in and then can access Focus on private practice (log in to BMA site is necessary)
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Q FN505 - Golden Hello - Is the Golden Hello scheme still in operation? New 13/03
Answer – The current Golden Hello Scheme will end on April 1st 2005 and a new
Framework for the Primary Care Development Scheme will replace it.
This will no longer be an SFE entitlement, but the GPC has tried to ensure that it will be directed at GPs and used to improve GP
recruitment, especially in deprived and under doctored areas. There will be increased scope in the new scheme to allow it to be tailored to
meet local needs. Details of the new scheme are not yet available.
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Q FN504 - Locum pay rates - Can you suggest what I should be paid as a locum? New 11/01
Answer – Sorry. We are unable to do so following a ruling in 1999 by
the Office of Fair Trading against the BMA’s policy of fee setting.
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Q FN503 - Fee for coroner’s report - I have been asked to provide a written report for the coroner. May I charge a fee? Updated 20/06
Answer – Yes. From 1st June 2005, the BMA suggests a fee of £60.50 for
a full written clinical report without examination, which is provided at the request of the coroner, and a fee of £30 for an extract from the medical records.
The fee for a full report applies whether or not a corner’s inquest is held.
The fees are payable under section 24(2) of the Coroners Act 1988 which allows local authorities to make a schedule of fees, allowances and
disbursements which may be paid by the coroner. The BMA’s forensic medicine committee takes part in the annual negotiations to set these fees.
Coroners’ work: reports
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Q FN502 - QOF payments - Can you confirm that the achievement payment for the Quality and Outcome Framework is due as a lump sum on 31/3/05?
New 06/01
Answer – No. QMAS will report on 31/03/05 and payments should be paid
at the end of April. We suspect that this may slip to the end of May if the data extraction does not go smoothly.
NFW
Q FN501 - Charging for travel advice – I have seen in the latest bulletin that you suggest that GPs are not allowed to charge for
travel advice. I don’t think this is correct as such advice would not fall under the definition of essential or additional services, nor is it
contracted separately as an enhanced service. I believe therefore that I can charge for my time and expertise. Can you review your advice please? New 04/01
Answer - Thank you for your comments. It is always good when
colleagues consider and challenge our advice in order to keep us on our toes! Sadly we can get things wrong – but hopefully not too often!
However, in this situation the item in the Bulletin does reflect the generally accepted interpretation of the regulations. We have checked
with the GPC that they agree with our view expressed in the bulletin and they believe that you could be at risk of a challenge if you stick with your interpretation.
The clause in the regulations that we believe precludes charging for giving travel advice is para 15 (5) Essential Services;
(5) The services described in this paragraph are the provision of
appropriate ongoing treatment and care to all registered patients and temporary residents taking account of their specific needs including -
(a) the provision of advice in connection with the patient's health, including relevant health promotion advice; and
(b) the referral of the patient for other services under the Act.
Travel advice is certainly relevant for those wishing to travel abroad and could be summed up as health promotion in that context.
Schedule 5 does, however, set out that you can charge for certain travel immunisations and your charge for those immunisations may
include an element for advice. Similarly it sets out that you may charge for a travel kit, and again this may include an element for advice.
The LMC would agree that a GP’s expertise and advice should be rewarded and also that the regulations are very complex and very easily
misinterpreted!
Risk management is a very personal decision and, if you believe it is worth risking a challenge in this situation, it is your prerogative to adopt
whatever attitude you wish. However, since it is possible to avoid the risk and still charge a fee for the aspects of travel advice that are
included in schedule 5, this may not be the safest policy.
The LMC can only advise on what we would view as the correct and/or pragmatic approach in any given situation. We cannot direct you to
follow our advice. The decision is yours.
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