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Guidance for negotiating fees for locum services in general practice

January 2007

Contractor – any person or organisation entering into a contract to provide primary medical services.

Performer – a healthcare professional who assists with the provision of primary medical services under a GMS, PMS, alternative provider or primary care medical services arrangement, together with the equivalent arrangements under Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish legislation where the terms differ.

Provider – a person or organisation who contracts to provide primary medical services with a primary care organisation under arrangements to provide general, personal, alternative provider, or primary care trust, medical services, and the equivalent arrangements in Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland.

From 1 April 2004 all registered medical practitioners are required to be on a PCO’s Medical Performers List. This aggregates previous lists (Medical List, Supplementary List and PMS List). A performer provider is a performer who has a contract with a PCO to provide primary medical services within the area.

Session – an agreed period of time and/or agreed task of work, not usually exceeding four hours. A session should usually include adequate time for administrative work arising during clinical contacts in that time.