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Practice managers’ salaries increase by 4%

The salaries of practice managers in the UK have risen to an average of £40,200 a year, an increase of 4%, but wide variations exist across the four countries, a salary survey has revealed.

The survey of 600 GP practice managers found that average earnings are £45,500 in Greater London, where 66% of managers earn more than £40,000. But average salaries in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are around £35,000.

Bonus payments have been in steady decline in recent years, and dropped by 19.6% in the past year, the study found.  

The report, written by recruitment consultants First Practice Management and Towergate MIA Insurance, said: ‘The Salary Index, published on the FPM site, includes full salary, bonus and geographical data and shows that average basic pay increased by just over 4% despite squeezes on practice funding, reversing the 0.87% drop in average basic pay last year. The value of bonuses paid to managers did however drop by almost 20% over the same period.’

It also found that the percentage of practice managers who have reached partner status in their practices has increased from 3.75% last year to 4.24% this year.

First Practice Management general manager Steve Morris said that the pay increases may not be enough to keep some practice managers, who are considering early retirement or a change of role because of pressure in meeting Care Quality Commission and CCG demands.

He added: ‘Pressure on practice finances, which was a particular factor last year, is still an issue in this survey. Nil pay rises for a number of successive years still exist in some practices, with others also cutting back staff numbers, often by natural wastage.’