1 Delayed Retirement Scheme for GPs Previously
the ‘Golden Goodbye scheme’. GPs in England aged between 60 and
65 years will receive £2000 for each year they remain in post up to
the age of 65. This will be backdated to the 1 October 2001 and so
those who were aged 60-64 on that date will still benefit. It does
not apply to those who work exclusively as a locum.
2 Seniority Payment There has also
been an amendment to the seniority payment rules which
removes the qualifying period previously imposed on those who have
taken a career break of 6 months or more.
3 A New flexible career scheme has also been
announced by the Government which extends the scheme currently
applying only to hospital doctors to GPs. This will offer GPs new
options to work more flexibly, to work part time and to help give
them a route back to practice when they want to return to the NHS.
It will help GPs who wish to take a break from working full-time but
wish to retain their clinical skills and links with the NHS and also
doctors who wish to reduce their hours nearing retirement, and
finally doctors who are not working to come back into the NHS. Full
details will be negotiated with the GPC. Under the scheme, the
DH will meet some of the costs of employing GPs who want to work
flexibly.
4 The Retainer Scheme
