According to the GPC in Northern Ireland, a number of practices have been asked by health trusts to cover the cost of Agenda for Change pay even though the practice-based staff involved are not employed by GPs.
Northern Ireland GPC vice-chairman Dr Tom Black said: ‘You would think that they couldn’t do that but some trusts are approaching practices and now the situation doesn’t look so clear. What we want is some kind of clarification surrounding trust staff working in practices.’
Dr Black said that in addition to clarification from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS), the GPC is reiterating its demands for additional funding to ensure that practice-employed staff can be moved to Agenda for Change terms and conditions.
The DHSSPS has already made £100 million available to trusts to cover Agenda for Change costs and the Northern Ireland GPC wants to see this made available to practices as well.
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