GP contract update
15 May 2003
Special LMC conference resolutions
Revised ready-reckoner and guidance now available
The revised ready reckoner spreadsheet, together with guidance which has been prepared to assist practices in completing the ready-reckoner, is now complete and is available for use on the website.
We apologise for the temporary withdrawal of the ready-reckoner earlier this week. Once an error had been identified it was essential to prevent erroneous information being given to practices. This has now been rectified.
The change to the ready-reckoner spreadsheet means that those practices who used it on Wednesday 7 May before it was removed in the evening, should re-calculate using the current version now available on this website.
A free helpline has been set up for those practices who need advice about their ready-reckoner calculations. Telephone 0207-566-4000. The service is available between 8.30am and 6pm Monday to Friday (the best time to call is between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday) or alternatively you can email your query to readyreckoner@kingstonsmith.co.uk
Practices in Scotland should not use this ready-reckoner. This is because the formula has been adapted in Scotland to take account of distinctive Scottish circumstances and is therefore not compatible with the spreadsheet.
Work is continuing to check the Scottish ready-reckoner before this is issued on the SGPC website for use in conjunction with the revised global sum allocations. The delay is due to the fact that SGPC had to await the finalised ready-reckoner before work could commence on adapting it for Scotland. We hope to be able to issue the Scottish mailing, including revised Scottish practice data, during this week (week commencing 12 May 2003). SGPC is also finalising the details in the Scottish Annex documentation with the Scottish Executive Health Department, and allowing time for printing and distribution, we regret that there will inevitably be a slight slippage of a further few days before the Scottish mailing is issued.
Supporting documentation
The contract supporting documentation is also now available and on the website. This documentation contains:
- model offer letters and terms and conditions of service for salaried GPs by a practice and by a PCT
- specifications and pricing for directed enhanced services and national enhanced services
- innovative out-of-hours schemes
- seniority payments
- mapping of payments to new contract income streams
- quality and outcomes framework guidance
- patient experience questionnaires – GPAQ and Improving Practice questionnaires
Other guidance
A simple guide to the contract has now been completed and is available on the website. Paper copies of the supporting documentation and the simple guide to the contract will be sent out to all GPs at the end of this week. A simple guide to the MPIG is also available on this website. A paper copy will not be enclosed with the supporting documentation to GPs.