Some salaried GPs have been denied pay rises that were rubber-stamped by the DoH for this year, GPC members say.
Many PCTs claim that GPs with a special interest (GPSIs) are not salaried GPs as an excuse not to give them pay rises, said Dr Malcolm Kendrick, of the GPC's sessional GPs sub-committee.
The DoH accepted the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body (DDRB) recommendation that all salaried GPs and PCT-employed GPs should have their pay uplifted by 2.2 per cent in 2008/9.
But Dr Kendrick says that as budgets fall, some GPs are being told unfairly that they do not fit the criteria for a pay rise.
'Everybody at the BMA has heard this is something that has been going on. The concept of what is a salaried GP is a bit complex, and there is no clarity,' said Dr Kendrick.
'Here you have an opportunity to tighten your belts and not give people pay rises.
'It is more widespread than you might think - anyone in intermediate care, and of course all these APMS GPs as well.
'There is the DDRB recommendation, but I think most of them will get nothing.'
Dr Kendrick said that some GPs, like those with a special interest or in intermediate care, were effectively unrepresented and left out of the DDRB's recommendations. He added that some practices were also less likely to award a pay uplift to GPs in these categories.
'You're less certain what your status is now. With practice income coming down, it sets a precedent - "we're not getting a pay uplift so why should you".'
But GPC negotiator Dr Beth McCarron-Nash said that although the definition of a salaried GP was unclear, most practices awarded the recommended uplifts.
'I think there are so many different types of contract that there is confusion over who is covered by the recommendations of the DDRB,' she said.
'But all GPs that are employed by the PCT should definitely be paid in line with DDRB recommendation.'
She added that technically the DDRB advice covers GMS salaried GPs and those employed by PCTs, but the BMA believes it should apply 'universally'.
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