GP Retention Scheme

The BMA have just announced that agreement has been reached with the Department of Health for  a new GP Retention Scheme. The scheme pays practices £76.92 per weekly session and the Retained GP a bursary of £1,000 for one to two sessions a week, £2,000 for two sessions a week and £3,000 for three sessions a week.

The scheme is open to doctors who meet ALL of the following criteria:

• Where a doctor is leaving or has left general practice (but is still on the National Medical Performers List) due to:
• Personal Reasons
• Approaching Retirement
• Requires greater flexibility in order to undertake other work either within or outside of general practice
• AND when a regular part time role does not meeting the doctor's need for flexibility for example the requirement for short clinics or annualised hours
• AND where there is need for additional educational supervision. For example a newly qualified doctor needing to work 1 - 4 sessions a week due to caring responsibilities or those working only 1 - 2 sessions where pro rata study leave is inadequate to maintain continuing professional development
• AND the doctor holds full registration and a licence to practice with the GMC

Further details can be found on the BMA website - click here for details or more details from Vicky Weeks's blog - click here.

Of course my interest is more than academic. I am retiring at the end of July and want to still do 2-3 sessions a week and wonder if this would work for me? Who knows ....