At the end of September 2024 the the PCN DES requirements and entitlements specification was updated to include details of how PCNs can employ newly qualified GPs under the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS), effective as of 1 October. This follows on from an announcement made in August that newly qualified GPs would temporarily be eligible for employment under ARRS.
Funding
- There is no ‘baseline’ for GPs.
- The additional roles reimbursement (ARR) GP sum is separate from the rest of the ARR funding.
- A PCN is entitled to claim reimbursement of the aggregate whole time equivalent (WTE) actual salary (including employer on-costs for NI and pension) for GPs, up to the maximum amount per role as outlined in Table 3c (page 72) and within that PCN’s overall ARR GP sum, for the delivery of health services.
- Subject to sections 10.5.6 to 10.5.10, a PCN within the London Region (as defined in clauses 28, 29, and 30 of the Model terms and conditions of service for a salaried general practitioner employed by a GMS practice), is entitled to claim the London reimbursement rate for GPs up to a maximum reimbursable amount per role as outlined in Table 3c for actual salary (including employer on-costs for NI and pension).
- A PCN’s ARRs GP Sum equates to £1.303 multiplied by the PCN contractor weighted population as at 1 January 2024. Further details of the method for determining ARR GP Sum are set out in the Network Contract DES Guidance. The GMS and PCN income ready reckoner provides an indicative figure for the PCN Additional Roles Reimbursement GP sum
- Annual equivalent maximum reimbursable amount per role plus London weighting £95,233 (or £92,462 outside of London). Note: employer’s National Insurance (13.8% of salary) and NHS Pension scheme (14.38%) contributions would need to come out of this sum for the role to be fully funded through ARRS.
- Where a PCN employs or engages a GP under ARRS, the PCN must ensure that the General Medical Practitioner is employed or engaged on terms and conditions which are no less favourable than those contained in the document entitled “Model terms and conditions of service for a salaried general practitioner employed by a GMS practice”.
Eligibility
- Contracts of employment must be for a minimum of six months.
- GPs are excluded if:
- they have been substantively employed as a GP in general practice previously, subject to express agreement with the commissioner
- OR if they are to be employed in a temporary capacity i.e. locums;
- AND/OR the GP is beyond the second anniversary of their certificate of completion of training, issued by the General Medical Council, at the start of their employment or engagement.