DDRB also recommended normal operation of the balancing mechanism to reclaim 248 per principal, and review of the pay mechanism in time for next year. This means GPs will be 248 each better off next year than if the DDRB recommendations had been accepted. In a further move, Alan Milburn has announced that the whole cost of flu vaccine payments will remain available for investment in general practice - not just the proportion relating to extra coverage achieved this year. The Department of Health will be discussing with the GPC how this can be done in order to boost patient services and fund practice improvements. Top Flu vaccine success Efforts by practices across the country have ensured the success of the winter flu vaccination campaign.
Locums are to be brought in to the NHS Pension Scheme for the first time.
Any general practice-qualified doctor who works as a locum will be granted access to the scheme on admission to the new health authority register of local doctors. The government intends to backdate entry to the scheme to April 2001 and is discussing with the British Medical Association how that might be done. For the first time, allocations for three years were set out, to aid strategic planning. The new Health and Social Care Bill is currently at Committee Stage in Parliament. Many of the Bill s proposals will have an impact on general practice.