Many practices use locum GPs to temporarily take over the place of a regular partner or team member. Traditionally they’re self-employed and will have numerous GP practices as clients. This includes locums who work through a limited company. However, the law surrounding such contractor status is complicated, which means that, in reality, situations can become…

Whatever the cost – and it varies hugely around the UK – it’s set to increase by 5.5% in April 2020. As you will be aware, in April 2019, the NHS employer contribution rose from 14.3% to 20.6% although implementation, for the NHS, was deferred until April 2020. Now the implementation date is looming.  As…

Firstly, I should say that locums come in many forms, not just doctors. I’ve recently come across a locum practice manager, a locum nurse practitioner as well as a locum healthcare assistant, a locum pharmacist and even agency reception and secretarial staff, all of whom were highly skilled and beneficial to the practice. However, all…

(Time to read: 3 minutes) Recent announcements regarding the employment status of GP locums have caused concern and raised many questions. So Russell Finn, the new medical expert at Harold Sharp, hopes to allay some fears. His article aims to explain in a nutshell the implications for GP practices of employing locums. What has happened?…

Author: Lynda Cox The new reimbursement provisions, announced in February and effective (in England) from 1st April 2017, mean that practices can claim up to £1734.18 pw for the first 26 weeks of a GP’s sickness absence, falling to half in the second 26 weeks of absence. This doesn’t mean that practices can claim £1734 pw…

At the first mention of the word tax, most people will immediately click onto another page. But please stick with us on this one as it’s important – and it could save you from a nasty and unexpected tax bill! In April 2017 some substantial changes are to be made to the IR35 tax legislation.…

Locums are never far from the headlines these days given the staffing crisis gripping the primary healthcare sector. The latest story, published earlier this week, said that over 10,000 patients will lose their GP practice over the holiday period, as four practices are set to close. The reason for the closures? The cost of locums.…