Reports of concerns among clinical directors of primary care networks about the VAT implications of employing additional staff are the subject of a recent article published on the Pulse website, including a comment from AISMA accountant Lizzy Lloyd. Click here to read the full article.

AISMA accountant Michael Ogilvie writes the latest in a series of articles for Practice Index. Find out why practice managers trying to save the surgery money by managing the payroll or book keeping themselves can end up costing the practice more. Visit the Practice Index website to read the full article.

AISMA accountant Andrew Pow tells GPonline.com that the government’s plans to allow doctors greater flexibility around contributions to their pension will not solve the problem of GPs reducing their working hours to avoid punitive taxes. Read the article in full on the GPonline.com website.

Responding to today’s announcement from the DHSC, Andrew Pow, a board member of the Association of Independent Specialist Medical Accountants, and partner at Mazars UK, said:

“We welcome the government’s acknowledgement that the 50:50 proposal will not prevent senior doctors from being severely impacted by the tapered pension tax allowance.

“AISMA has long-argued for a review of pension tax rules since it was clear from the outset that the 2016 changes would discourage senior doctors from working extra shifts in what was an already stretched health service.”

Read the DHSC announcement

Two cases of insider fraud, which had a severe impact on the practice in question, have been reported recently. AISMA members put their heads together to provide a list of simple tips, published by GPonline.com, that GP partners can use to help avoid fraud in their practices. Read the full article.

AISMA board member Andrew Pow comments in this article published by GPonline.com, warning that the NSH faces winter chaos as the pension tax crisis continues. Reduced working hours and early retirement to avoid tax charges means the NHS will struggle to cope. Read the article in full.

AISMA accountants Lizzy Lloyd and Rob Skilton, writing in Pulse, explain VAT implications for Primary Care Networks. Covering the supply of services to PCN members, and the implications of sharing a workforce, the article touches on many of the considerations practices need to consider as they start working collaboratively. Click here to read the full article.

Last week the Supreme Court rejected a government appeal against a High Court ruling which found 2015 pension reforms discriminated on the grounds of age, race and equal pay. Today, GPonline.com reports that GPs have begun age discrimination claims against the government in a series of test claims backed by the BMA. Read the article in full, including comments from AISMA board member Andrew Pow. 

Writing for the Practice Index blog, AISMA Chairman Bob Senior offers guidance on what practices should look out for before signing up to a primary care network. Visit the Practice Index website to read five things GP partners and their practice managers need to bear in mind. https://practiceindex.co.uk/gp/blog/what-to-look-out-for-before-signing-a-pcn-agreement/

AISMA Chairman Bob Senior and Vice Chairman Deborah Wood talk to Pulse about Primary Care Network contracts. Go to the Pulse website to read the article in full.