GP salaries hit £90,000 but it’s still not enough, they say

THE pay of GPs in Scotland has increased to almost £90,000 a year – but still lags behind incomes for doctors in the rest of the UK, figures show.

A report on GP incomes found average pay in Scotland before tax went up 3.5 per cent in 2009-10 to £89,500 compared with £86,500 the previous year. More than 10 per cent of GPs in Scotland were earning more than £125,000 a year before tax.

But average pay in Scotland still falls behind doctors in the rest of the UK.

Doctors leaders’ warned that the gap between Scottish earnings and the rest of the UK could lead to GPs heading elsewhere to work. They also voiced concerns that financial cutbacks and pay freezes would mean figures not rising in future.

While pay for Scottish GPs increased, the figures from the NHS Information Centre found little change in GP incomes from both NHS and private work in England, with pay standing at £109,400 in 2009-10 against £109,600 the previous year.

In Wales, income rose to £93,500, compared with £90,700, while in Northern Ireland it increased to £91,400 from £89,700.

Across the UK as a whole, average pay for contractor GPs – who make up the vast majority of the sector’s workforce – remained static, at £105,700 in 2009-10, compared with £105,300 the previous year and a peak of £110,000 in 2005-6.

But the figures also showed that 210 UK GPs (0.6 per cent of the total) had an income before tax of at least £250,000 against 250 GPs the year before. Some 680 GPs (2.1 per cent) had an income of £200,000 to £250,000, compared with 700 the year before.

Dr Dean Marshall, chairman of the British Medical Association’s Scottish GPs Committee, said while the figures for Scotland showed an increase in the average income, they dated back to 18 months ago and did not reflect funding cuts that had happened since.

He said: “GPs in Scotland still earn less than our colleagues in the rest of the UK and it is important that this disparity is not allowed to continue or we could see an exodus of GPs from Scotland to elsewhere in the UK.

“Since 2003, the real value of the GP contract has been eroded by almost 27 per cent. It is worrying therefore to note the Scottish Government spending plan for zero increases to the GMS [general medical services] budget over the next three years. Eventually, the squeeze on GP funding will have an impact on the provision of services to patients.

“In addition, some NHS boards have been attempting to reduce the funding they give to GP practices even further by applying additional efficiency savings to GPs at a local level, which is unfair and unacceptable.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The small increase in Scottish GPs’ pay in 2009 are due to Dentist and Doctors Review Body recommendations, which were applied and take account of a number of years of falling net income for GPs.

“In line with other areas of our NHS, GP pay has remained static in 2010.

“A UK-wide contract has been agreed for Scotland’s GPs for the forthcoming year. The contract will deliver more and better care for patients while also continuing the freeze in GP pay.

“This year’s settlement for GPs includes new targets which aim to ensure that patients get the very best care and GPs will now be working closely with patients with a view to reducing unavoidable admissions to A&E.

“The agreement also includes a number of improvements to the standards measuring quality of care for asthma patients, patients with peripheral arterial disease at risk of heart attacks, together with additional support and treatment to help smokers to quit.”