DR Solicitors In Print

Practices which fail to plan adequately for PCT closure could be in for a nasty surprise. The current PCT functions and responsibilities will not simply be transferred en bloc to CCGs by 2013. Daphne Robertson of DR Solicitors identifies some of the issues: Gather evidence of current  arrangements and agreements with your PCT Re-evaluate your […read more…]

Definition In tax law there are only two vehicles by which a GP can provide his or her services to a practice: as an Employee or as a Self-Employed person. Employees are taxed under Schedule E (PAYE), and their employer is responsible for accounting for income tax and employer and employee national insurance. A self […read more…]

The lack of GP partnership opportunities means that an increasing number of GPs are taking up salaried contracts, whether this is to work in a GP practice or to work for the PCT/LHB or for an alternative provider of medical services including APMS, SPMS and out-of-hours providers. The employment contract route is also frequently being […read more…]

Funding cuts are forcing PMS practices to start slashing their opening hours – sabotaging the Department of Health drive to extend access. Pulse has learnt that one practice in Surrey, which has seen its funding slashed by 12.5% after the trust brought in a new across the board PMS funding deal of £75 per patient, […read more…]

Practices are increasingly facing contract reviews as the NHS tries to save cash, with some even threatened with closure. Solicitor Daphne Robertson advises on how to protect yourself. Over the past year there has been a significant increase in the number of practices forced to accept sharp cuts in income, or threatened with closure, as […read more…]

Exclusive: PCTs will be able to unilaterally terminate PMS contracts from next month under new powers handed to them by the Government, Pulse can reveal. Pulse understands the Department of Health is creating a stand-alone clause in PMS contract regulations allowing ‘without grounds’ termination, to come into force on 1 April. The move comes as […read more…]

In the second of an occasional series aimed at GPs who rent their surgery premises, solicitor Daphne Robertson looks at matters relating to lease liability When faced with the prospect of a new lease, be it a fresh start or a renewal of a recently expired lease, then, for landlords and tenants alike, the question […read more…]

Approximately half of all GPs rent their practice premises. In the first of an occasional series on rented GP property, solicitor Daphne Robertson looks at the vexed question of the tenant’s repair clause Most commercial leases leave the obligation to insure the building to the landlord although the tenant is required to reimburse the landlord […read more…]