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Government defends GPs on £300,000 a year
Ben Bailey04.08.09
The Government today defended GP earnings after an investigation found some were taking home more than £300,000 a year.
It came after a Freedom of Information Act request asked primary care trusts for the GP with the highest earnings in the area.
The overall highest paid family doctor, in the North East Essex PCT, which covers surgeries in the Colchester area, earned £380,394.
Since the introduction of the new GP contract in 2004, doctors can also earn as much as £204 an hour for evening and weekend work, the investigation found.
The Department of Health said the new contract has led to improvements in the recruitment and retention of doctors as well as services for patients.
It also said most GPs have seen no increase in their pay over the last three years.
Out of 152 PCTs, 22 replied to the freedom of information request, with many others claiming the information was confidential or held by a private company.
In some cases the figures also include money doctors have to pay for staff salaries and rents.
A GP in Kirklees, which covers Huddersfield and Dewsbury, earned £321,794, while the highest earning GP in the south London boroughs of Sutton and Merton earned £319,000.
A Norfolk GP was taking home £310,000 - even after outgoings were subtracted.
A British Medical Association spokesman said: "These figures don't tally with statistics based on GP tax returns.
"Primary care trusts have information based on the amount of income a practice receives - this is not what GPs earn as clearly there are many expenses to be paid such as staff pay and rent.
"There is huge variation in these figures and this is not reflected in previous statistics, which show very little difference between the highest and lowest earning areas of the country."
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "Before the new contract GP recruitment and retention was a real problem. Since then we have achieved dramatic improvements in GP services as well as getting better value for money out of the contract.
"Over the last three years, most GPs have had no increase in their pay having enjoyed considerable improvements in their work and payload since the new contract was introduced in 2004.
"In return for this additional investment, we have seen significant improvements in the range and quality of services provided to patients.
"For example, almost all patients are now seen within 48 hours compared to just half 10 years ago, and when patients need to see a doctor they get to spend more time with them."
A report from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee published in October last year said the new GP contract made it too easy for doctors to earn high salaries through performance-related pay.
The system enables GP practices to earn extra cash for reaching a range of targets, including patient satisfaction and managing long-term conditions such as diabetes and asthma.
The study followed a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) earlier last year which found productivity in relation to GP services had fallen by an average of 2.5% a year.
The report showed GP partners, who run practices, had seen their pay increase 58% since 2002/03 to £113,614 in 2005/06.
Reader views (12)
Nice to know that I along with 70% of the population am working my bud of on slave labour rates.When the revolution comes and we cast thee out to sea,ask not why,for it is thee that caused such an uprising.
- David, london
I have just been forced to change doctors, and my old doctor just blamed every ailment due to being overwieght. When I was diagnosed with Hypertension, I was informed that I was struck of his list and had to find a new Doctor. My new practice is wonderful, modern, clean and so far none of the doctors have said that my blood pressure is due to my weight, all theve said is exercise more! these doctors deserve every penny, unlike my old doctor who seemed to have only qualified in perscribing anti-biotics
- Raminder Bhalla, Northolt
I'd rather pay it to a doctor than a politician.
- Bob, Cheam
We all know that GP's are intelligent, highly educated and trained people - and that their job is no doubt often stressful and at times difficult, but like Alan said - come on!
This is an absurd amount of money, virtually double what the Prime Minister earns! If doctors earnt £100k a year, roughly 4 times the national average, would anyone think they were poorly paid?
I know it's only a minority that are eaning these vast sums - so even more reason to impose upper-limits or payment caps on what they can earn.
A basic wage of £70k, with productivty bonuses taking them up to a max of, say £120k, should still be generous enough to see them highly motivated to work hard and perform well.
We as a country just can't afford this profligacy for publicly paid workers: A third of a million pounds for a public servant is just too much, however important they may be...
- John, London
Unlike politicians - most of whom have had only a very basic education - doctors have spent ten years studying medicine and therefore deserve every penny. Compare what they do with Jacqui Smith or Margaret Beckett's husbands who are being paid £40,000 p.a. of tax payers' money for "licking envelopes".
- R.F., Yorks, UK
WE CAN NOT AFFORD THIS. THE PUBLIC SECTOR PAY BILL IS OUT OF CONTROL AND WILL LEAVE US ALL BUST!!!!! MORE TAX RISES ON THE WAY
- Very Very Angry At Paying Tax For Mp'S Expeses, Home Counties
Once upon a time, doctors were doctors because they wanted to help others.
Nowadays, doctors seem to be doctors because they want to help themselves to the funding supplied by the Taxpayer.
The NHS isn't free, except to those who have never paid into this country's tax and NI !
- Cap, london
We had years and years of poor pay for doctors, restrictive surgery hours, 3-month waits for a specialist etc. The NHS is now well funded and does a fantastic job. Doctors train for ten years and deserve a fat pay cheque, unlike the vermin who run the banks and rape the economy with their insatiable apetite for vintage Cristal.
- Neil, London, London UK
While Companies in the private sector (The Real World) are freezing pay rises, reducing their pay rolls and generally having to face the consequences of the economic downturn, it would seem that any organisation reliant on public money (taxes) such as the BBC, MP's expenses, Council salaries and pensions, Quangos's are living on a different planet where no restraint at all is necessary. Yes, GP's do a very fine job, but up from £70K to £300K plus - come on now !!!!!!! and its hell's own job sometimes to get an appointment - andjust don't even think of being ill after 6.00pm or at any time over the weekend.
- Alan, Essex
With so many snouts in the trough it's a wonder that most
GPs aren't off with swine flu. These sums are outrageous when the NHS is stretched to breaking point. Come the election, perhaps this group of workers will be paid what they are worth, not what they think they are worth. At my GP practice there's usually one or two partners on duty. The rest are locums or salaried doctors, earning a fraction of the partnes' salaries.
- Arthur, manchester
They are worth every penny and do a commendable job against a backdrop of ever changing political interference and demanding patients. Just a look at other professions such as the media or sports, what do they do to justify their pay packets? Don't even talk about bankers!!!
- Brian Winters, London
Wonderful improvements in the quality of service etc for the Government spokesman. Can we now see the doctor please or do we again have to speak to the receptionist who will decide whether or not we are sick enough and what she/he feels we should be prescribed?
- Joe, Thornton Heath, London, England.
