Sessional GP week

Introducing Sessional GP week 2023

The first ever sessional GP week took place from the 12-16 June. It was dedicated to celebrating and valuing the expertise, commitment and dedication of sessional GPs and their immense contribution to the NHS. The focus for the week was 'Respect, Reward, Retain'.

Resources and webinars were shared throughout the week under the banner of daily themes:

Monday – Why working as a sessional GP is a positive career choice

Tuesday – Driving change as leaders and innovators

Wednesday – Your rights

Thursday – Retaining a thriving sessional community: networking and support

Friday – What the BMA Sessional GP committee is doing – Respect, Reward, Retain

Acknowledging the vast expertise of sessional GPs, we offer new and current guidance sessional GPs can use to help reach their potential and find out what their rights are. Come back each day for more content and resources.

Round up of the week

Day 1 - Monday 12 June

Why working as a sessional GP is a positive career choice

• Free to roam -  variety of sessional roles (UK)
• General practice is your oyster (UK)
• Fulfilled and valued as an employed GP (UK)
• Flexible working … all change? (UK)

Day 2 - Tuesday 13 June

Driving change as leaders and innovators

• Portfolio careers – the ‘new normal’? (UK)
• Answering the call – taking on 111 works as a sessional GP (UK)
• Guidance on working through digital locum banks (England)
• Blog from Patricia Moultrie (GPC Scotland)

Guidance 

• General practice workforce initiatives (England)
• GPs outside of traditional practice (UK)

Day 3 - Wednesday 14 June

Your rights

• CPD: How to make the most of it as a salaried and locum GP (UK)
• Starting or returning to work as a GP? Ask this first (UK)
• Parental leave: helping GPs know your rights (UK)
• Securing enhanced shared parental leave for salaried GPs (England)
• Beware the conspiracy to hijack your workload: locum GPs (UK)

Guidance

• Salaried GP model contract toolkit (England)
• Locum handbook (UK)
• Salaried Handbook (UK)
• Guide to working conditions for salaried GPs and employers (UK)
• Locum chambers guidance (UK)
• A guide for GPs - maternity and other types of parental leave (UK)
• Shared parental leave (UK)
• Sessional and salaried GP contract guidance (UK)

Day 4 - Thursday 15 June

Retaining a thriving sessional community: networking and support

• Wellbeing through the lens of a salaried GP (UK)
• The GP retention scheme inclusivity reset (England)
• Work doesn’t have to overload you (UK)
• Staying on top when your work drops off (UK)
• LMCs: what they do and how you can get involved (UK)

• Returning to general practice after a long break (England)

• How to rebuild general practice (UK)

• From maternity back to general practice (UK)

• Under investigation - support is available (UK)

• Locum container - top ten tips (England)

Guidance

• Sessional GPs and LMCs working together more effectively (UK)
• Addressing misconceptions about the GP retention scheme (England)
• GP retention scheme (England)
• Salaried handbook - learning groups and avoiding isolation
• Safe workload guidance (Scotland)

Day 5 - Friday 16 June

What the BMA Sessional GP committee is doing – Respect, Reward, Retain

• Respect, reward, retain (UK)
• The committee will be hosting the Sessional GP UK conference in Autumn 2023.  Look out for further details to register in the coming weeks.

Guidance

• Job planning guidance (England)
• The NHS pension scheme as a sessional GP (England and Wales)
• How IR35 affects doctors (England)
• A new illustrative pay range for salaried GPs (England) (including a template letter to support asking for annual pay uplift)
• Discussion locums fees - Competition law (UK)
• Safe working in general practice (England)
• Overview of GP portfolios and guidance

Member benefits - coming soon