Mark Howson
Hancock approves plan to pay GP pensions tax but warns of 'tax avoidance'
I got stung last winter doing OOH. Does this cover the massive bill I got in winter 2018/19. Then there are all the people who got hit last year and haven’t even realised it yet because of capita delays. I know of people with no capita data from 2014 who may be sitting in a tax timebomb. People have been hit hard already and have no faith in an unjust system designed to recover money given by government to fill the bankers pockets with gold. I think the social contract has been broken by this. We should all pay our taxes but our taxes should be demonstrably fair.
NHS set for 'worst ever' winter crisis as A&E waiting times worsen again
If it is any consolation it is better than the last time the Tories had 10 years of guardianship of the NHS in the 80’s and 90’s. But it won’t survive another 5 years of Tories guardianship.
Drug shortages – how GPs are kept out of the loop
Is this pharma companies gaming the system to maximise profits by supplying drugs to those countries where the price is higher in preference and restricting to others.
NHS trusts ask GP practices to identify overseas patients when referring
It would be rare for a patient to request you hold information on their eligibility for NHS treatment. And it is right that you do not have to give the info in your referral letter. You do have to make the patient aware they are not entitled to NHS care or it will come as a big shock when they get the bill and will affect their decision on the nature of the referral so is required for consent.
If they ask you not to declare - fair enough. It is after all the 2ndry care institution’s duty to check and charge not us. We only have to get appropriate informed consent for the referral.NHS trusts ask GP practices to identify overseas patients when referring
Since 2ndry care is not free to people not normally resident in the UK whether British or not it would be reasonable to see if the patient wanted a private referral to the NHS or to a non NHS service and so it is a discussion that needs to be had with the patient so they are fully informed about their referral. I would have thought it reasonable to inform the service to whom you evenetual refer that this is a private referral.
GMC referrals to medical tribunal service up by 40%
The fluctuation in 200 of two standard errors is 2x square root of 200 and so is about 28. This 28 is about p of 0.05. So the actual fluctuation of 80 looks significant. However we don’t have the actual average over the last few years. If the average was 240 then the 2 std error fluctuation is about 32 which makes the 280 just significant.
GPs requesting ambulance will have to provide a score for level of emergency
While members of public calling 999 may not realise how serious the problem is, you can be sure if a doctor is calling an ambulance they are justifiably concerned. So in fact if a GP calls 999 it should be the highest priority.
Antidepressants work 'by tackling anxiety symptoms rather than depression'
https://www.ted.com/talks/johann_hari_this_could_be_why_you_re_depressed_and_anxious/up-next
General practice responsible for £88m of fraudulent behaviour, claims NHS report
Claiming fraud is meaningless unless you give particular examples. Without actual cases it is fiction and if we were an individual libellous. As regards ghost patients we all know the system takes account of this and if you were to remove them completely you would have to renegotiate the GMS contract to uplift the payment actual patient. Indeed you can turn the argument on it head as the formula produces a factor of less than 1.0 so we are paid for less than the actual number of patients we have registered but we all understand it is just modelling. Any NHSE person who uses ghost patients against the profession is a either a political lying scumbag or thick.
Do fit notes benefit patients stuck with their benefits?
My position for a long time has been that we should not be doing repeat sick notes for chronic sickness. But when forced to in my standard fit note I state an illness (as a fit note makes no sense without an illness ) then I write- For the employer or DWP, I am not in a position to asses this person for work purposes please arrange an OH assessment.
Then I mark it indefinitely.The poverty of excess
The cheapest diet is vegetarian bought at the market. People do not eat junk food because it is cheap they eat it because it is convenient.
Superpractice to close surgery due to 'serious' GP staffing problems
One of the things a super practice is designed to do is close sites to concentrate resources and become more efficient at few sites. So not surprising really.
Embrace the NHS App as part of your practice’s digital toolbox
I downloaded the app and used it to get my blood results and book an appointment. I thought it was pretty useful from a patient’s point of view. Similar to the SystmOne app but better.
Doctors 'threatened with eviction' and left with 'no pension' due to Capita failings
Presumably Capita holds onto the money denying the exchequer about 0.5Billion pounds in money so far since 2014 and keeps it in its funds accruing interest or perhaps investing it. The most likely reason for this is corruption. I have written to Matt Hancock to point this out in case he isn’t aware. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if he had shares in or commitments to Capita.
I do not believe this is incompetence and believe it is criminal corruption.Halving pension contributions 'not enough' to avoid tax charges
It is not just the high earners. I earned 60k this year but had a 200k Tax Bill because my pension pot increased by 500k. The reasons are complex and related to the difference between officer and GP pensions. But a common way others can get stung is for their pay to go up due to a promotion or pay/income rise. The 40k allowance is not about your contributions but about your pension pot value.
Chancellor downplays hopes for pension tax reform
The problem that affects average earners is fluctuations in pay from one year to the next which can put you over the 40k limit as a self employed person. In my case it was a sudden change in the pension rules calculating my pension which led to a 200k bill as my pot jumped from 500k to 1,000,000 overnight despite an annual income of 60k. The pension people allow me to pay it over 20 years by reducing my pension. I win if I die before the 20 years is up!
GPs facing up to £50k in pensions tax bills as advisers report 'sharp rise' in demand
My annual allowance tax bill is £200,000 My only option is to ask it to be taken off my pension pot as I only earn 60k this year and so in no position to pay such a bill immediately.
GPs more likely to work 10-hour shifts at larger practices
A full time teacher averages 24 contact hours with pupils. But still work 10 hour days. In France a full time teacher has 18 hours contact with pupils.
Sessions seeing patients is not a measure of part time or full time. It is hours worked.15% increase in patients waiting a month for a GP appointment
Still far better than waiting list times for secondary care.. don’t forget that.
Practices still facing ‘extortionate’ premises costs despite negotiations
Just pay what you historically paid and no more. Do not sign a lease without considerable thought. NHSPS is poorly run and incompetent and likely to disappear.
