Next January, the Government is set to implement a new policy that will allow GPs to take on patients outside their boundaries – rolling back the deadline originally set for this month. At the same time, NHS England said practices that take on out-of-area patients will receive the same funding as for their local patients, even though they will not have to offer home visits. There will be varying fortunes for practices under the scheme. AISMA Chairman Bob Senior advises which practices are likely to profit. Visit the Pulse website to find out more.

Earnings from the flu vaccination campaign should rise in line with list size but in fact accountants know that results can vary significantly between practices of much the same size. AISMA Chairman Bob Senior explains what steps practices can take steps to ensure they see a rise in income during the flu season. Visit the Pulse website to read the article

When a partner leaves or joins a practice there are some essential admin arrangements that will need to be covered. AISMA accountant Phil Harnby suggests some polishing up and a spring clean of the practice agreement to help oil the wheels of change. Download article

Finding locums has always been difficult – particularly in the summer months – and with partner vacancies becoming more frequent, demand for locums often exceeds supply. AISMA Chairman Bob Senior looks at ways to cover holidays without busting your locum budget. Visit the Pulse website to find out more

The 31 July tax deadline may trigger anxieties for many GPs. Most practices have gone some way towards improving efficiency but as the first quarter of the new contract ends, they must look at their long-term financial strategy. Federations are enjoying unprecedented popularity among GPs, says AISMA Chairman Bob Senior. But they are no ‘sticking plaster’ solution. Visit the Pulse website to find out how to make sure a federation works for you.

It is a fact of life, let alone business, that people come and go, and GP practices are no exception. At some point, a partner will leave, whether to retire, emigrate or simply move elsewhere and this, of course, will affect the partnership. For many GP practices this is a really hot topic since the current changes and uncertainties in primary care have led to plenty of GP partners considering early retirement as workload pressures increase. AISMA accountant Phil Harnby suggests that, if you play your cards right, it’s easy to deal with GP partner departures and arrivals. Download article

With profits under pressure, GPs looking for non-NHS income will need to work out if the effort will pay off. While most practices receive some non-NHS income – from private medicals, copying patients’ notes and signing forms – there are a number of other opportunities GPs can consider. AISMA Chairman Bob Senior has some tips on how to boost private income and make it worthwhile. Go to the Pulse website to read the article

With falling practice income, a principal driver for practices considering a merger is the opportunity to tender for more services. AISMA accountant James Gransby lines up the best tactical moves for practices considering a merger. Download article

On the face of it care homes represent an area of primary care where there is insufficient funding. Yet some GPs have bought into the care home market by securing private contracts with the owners. Some, more entrepreneurial GPs have bought the actual care home business itself. AISMA accountants Paul Congdon and Nick Holmes offer advice to GPs about investing in a care home. Visit Pulse website

Bringing last year’s accounts up to date is urgent for practices with a 31 March year-end. In an ideal world, financial records would be updated throughout the year, but they often fall to the bottom of the ‘to do’ list and end up being a big job for many practices at this time of year. AISMA Chairman Bob Senior outlines three key mistakes GPs make when filing accounts. Go to the Pulse website to find out more