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PMS practices to get 1.32% funding uplift from April

PMS practices are set to get the same funding 1.32% uplift as GMS practices for 2013/14, the NHS Commissioning Board has confirmed.

The news comes as the board also said that it will ‘shortly’ announce details on the plans for PMS and GMS to have the same baseline funding by 2021.

A spokesperson said: ‘The NHS Commissioning Board intends to publish its specifications before 1 April. The board has agreed that PMS practices will get the same 1.32% uplift as GMS practices.

‘Further announcements about how PMS contracts will be changed to reflect GMS will be made shortly.’

However, the GPC said the funding uplift will mean a pay cut to PMS and GMS GPs alike.

GPC deputy chair Dr Richard Vautrey said: ‘That would be the standard process, but we should not call this a pay rise by any means. With the rising level of expenses it means GPs get a pay cut again, even though the Government is suggesting we should have a 1% pay rise.

He also criticised the Government for not yet having released the details of how the PMS funding overhaul will be implemented.

He said: ‘This is the cause of our concern. We were asking for clarification on this even before the consultation started and yet they still have not produced a clear answer. Practices should be concerned about this, whether they are GMS or PMS, because it will form the root basis for whether practices will remain viable in the future.’

The NHS Commissioning Board has previously said it will review all PMS contracts to achieve the same baseline funding between GMS and PMS. It is due to start in 2014/15, to give the Board time to review current funding streams.

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You can find out more about how to protect your earnings at Pulse Live, Pulse’s new two-day annual conference for GPs, practice managers and primary care managers. Richard Apps, partner at RSM Tenon, will be presenting a session on how to maximise your practice income and keep an eye on your cash flow.

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