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GPs set for pay cut after Government overrules DDRB on expenses
11 Mar 10
GPs in England are to receive an effective pay cut for 2010/11, after the Government chose to ignore the pay review body's recommendation and apply a 'prospective efficiency saving' on GP expenses.
The Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body recommended an increase of 1.34% in contractual payments for GPs - designed to result in no increase to GPs’ average net income when expenses are taken into account.
But the Government has factored in an additional prospective efficiency saving of 1% on GP expenses, after rejecting the pay body’s proposal that efficiency savings should only be taken into account retrospectively.
The Government said the proposed uplift in GP pay would therefore stand at 0.8%, some way below the 2% called for by the BMA, who said the ruling would result in a pay cut for many GPs.
The DDRB’s recommendation that salaried GPs in England should receive a pay increase of 1% was accepted.
The deal comes after Pulse first revealed in December that the Government was looking to press ahead with their phase-out of the MPIG despite the plan to freeze net GP pay, leaving most practices facing a real-terms cut in income for 2010/11.
BMA chair Dr Hamish Meldrum said: ‘The BMA is disappointed that the government has chosen to overrule some of the recommendations of the independent pay review body. The government has scaled back the uplift that was essential to counter increases in GPs’ expenses, which has resulted in another pay cut for family doctors.’
‘It is interesting that the Government accepted in full the salary increases recommended for MPs, yet chose to penalise dedicated and hard-working doctors who strive to lead and deliver improvements in care whilst working in exceptionally challenging circumstances.’
But health secretary Andy Burnham defended the deal.
‘These pay uplifts are a good deal for the Government and the NHS. In tough times, this package targets the pay rises we can afford to make where they can do most good for patients,' he said. ‘They also take full account of the need for pay restraint — especially by top earners in the public sector.'
‘The best-paid hospital doctors, along with GPs, dentists, and top NHS managers, will therefore get no increases.'
‘However we have taken on board the recommendations of the independent Pay Review Bodies on lower-paid doctors at the start of their careers, who will be getting a special pay supplement.’
Andrew Clapperton, head of primary care workforce and contracting at NHS Employers, said: ‘We have consistently made the argument over a number of years that these awards should take into account prospective efficiency savings and can understand why the Government has made the decisions it has.’
Readers' comments
So MPs are getting 1.5% as recommended by their independent review body, but they choose to ignore the DDRB.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8550850.stm
Yet another squeeze on practice finances - all our overheads are rising faster than the rate of inflation and staff will want a pay rise. QOF targets are getting harder to reach and after being 'so thankful' to GP's for their wonderful efforts in combatting Swine Flu, this is the thanks. I'll certainly not be voting Red in May, but can't honestly see a viable alternative out there at the moment.
Yet again the 'independent' review body is interfered with as part of a state expenditure control policy. It's this type of interference that resulted in the collapse of general practice followed by the new contract with its uplift to restore pay parity to independent review body placement. Are we starting another 20 year cycle?
Mr Brown may look the second largest chump in 20th century politics. Chamberlain's 'I have here a paper' is definitely the first, Brown's 'I have abolished boom and bust' is the second on the basis of the economic history, without crediting him with creating 'boom and bust' in medical remuneration.
GPs collectively have access to virtually the entire population of voters. Many of us may not be political, but we can let our patients know what our feelings are in the run up to the election. There have been constant DOH-led changes in our circumstances and this is unsettling for patients as well. The tweaking of QOF gives the impression of a pay cut as few of us will now gain near maximum points. We are employing more staff for more hours and no pay award is the final straw. GP salaries have consequently gone down. I would like another party to take over the reigns.
Patients will have little sympathy with those whose earnings are so high. Our income has done very nicely indeed during this labour government. None of us fancy a pay cut, but we have to be realistic. One less skiing holiday next year-i think i can cope with that.
I don't object to taking a cut in hard times but I object to the double standards displayed by the toadying politicos. Nil for 'other high-earners' but 1.5% for MPs.....ooh and a moat and a duck-house and a new toaster. Then these toadying excuses for humankind defend it by hiding behind the 'independence' of their review body. I'm sure the Police force feel similarly agrieved. I think this transcends party politics really and relates to how these politicians have forgotten that they too are public servants and have a duty to the people they serve. Even senior Merchant Bankers declined their yearly bonuses as they realised the potential adverse publicity of awarding themselves big sacks of cash whilst others went without. Not so our Politico masters though. Sorry to be churlish and inarticulate but what a collection of twats.
I have checked the GMC registration details of some of the medical "commentators" on this website. funnily enough the names don't exist but their names do fit with journalists or ex-journalists. I could name names! Strangely their comments also seem rather anti-GP. GPs are not stupid. Please PULSE magazine commit to your web headline that this site is "meant for health professionals only" !!