MP Attacks Withdrawal of Health Board Funding for GPs Maternity Pay
Sandra Osborne MP today raised concerns with NHS Ayrshire and Arran over plans to withdraw funding for GP’s maternity cover.
As it stands at the moment, self employed female GPs have variable maternity arrangements depending on their practice agreements. While a GP is on maternity leave, the practice would employ a locum GP and the Health Board would reimburse the costs.
Sandra has learned that NHS Ayrshire and Arran plans to withdraw this refund. This will have huge implications for General Practice in Ayrshire as it will mean that individual GP practices will have to pay the full costs.
Sandra said
‘I am very concerned to learn that as a money saving measure, NHS Ayrshire and Arran is proposing to cease refunding locum payments for GPs taking maternity leave.
‘This will have huge implications on GP practices locally. It could potentially lead to practices only recruiting male doctors or older female GPs who have completed their families and some practices could be left without access to a female GP if a practice decides not to replace a GP who is off on maternity leave.
‘I have raised my concerns on this with NHS Ayrshire and Arran.’
Sandra Osborne MP today raised concerns with NHS Ayrshire and Arran over plans to withdraw funding for GP’s maternity cover.
As it stands at the moment, self employed female GPs have variable maternity arrangements depending on their practice agreements. While a GP is on maternity leave, the practice would employ a locum GP and the Health Board would reimburse the costs.
Sandra has learned that NHS Ayrshire and Arran plans to withdraw this refund. This will have huge implications for General Practice in Ayrshire as it will mean that individual GP practices will have to pay the full costs.
Sandra said
‘I am very concerned to learn that as a money saving measure, NHS Ayrshire and Arran is proposing to cease refunding locum payments for GPs taking maternity leave.
‘This will have huge implications on GP practices locally. It could potentially lead to practices only recruiting male doctors or older female GPs who have completed their families and some practices could be left without access to a female GP if a practice decides not to replace a GP who is off on maternity leave.
‘I have raised my concerns on this with NHS Ayrshire and Arran.’