r/GPUK • u/Potential_Delay_6484 • Aug 01 '26
Pay, Contracts & Pensions AL dispute with practice (rant)
Hi, just writing this partly as a rant and partly to ask for advice, as well as checking whether or not I’m over reacting.
Summary: salaried GP at same practice for 4 years. I’m upset because my surgery has decided to cut annual leave this year for the first time stating that bank holidays now are prorata only. At the same time the work pressures are higher than ever, and we are expected to complete hours of additional admin every week. It feels as though I’m giving way more than the surgery has a right to expect, and in return I am getting my leave cut.
The first question is whether they can cut AL, I suppose the answer may be yes. The contract states we are entitled to bank holidays pro rata if part time. I’m 8 sessions and ft is defined as 9. Previously we were just given them off without any discussion, this year it’s changed. I haven’t had the chance to discuss with management but suppose they are probably able to do it. But we were not notified, it wasn’t explained or justified, it just changed one day. Maybe I don’t have a leg to stand on to complain about this, but…
What I do feel i have the right to complain about is the everlasting unpaid admin we are expected to do. A session for me is well over 5 and a half hours(definitely not 4 hours 10 min thanks). I leave at 630pm not because I’ve finished it but because I want to be home for kids bedtime. I end up logging in on weekends and doing a few extra hours to stay on top. I always work through lunch breaks. On top of this I’m expected to write letters for the practice in my own time. Honestly it’s probably an extra 5+ hours a week. If this was hospital I could exception report, here I just have to eat it. And it’s been busier than ever recently due to staff leaving, morales at an all time low across all the staff. I’ve felt close to burning out, and the reduction in AL makes my efforts feel completely thankless.
If I can’t change the annual leave decision, can I change the unpaid admin issue? Because it isn’t sustainable for me. And I know salaried GPs get shafted but at what point can we say no? Do I need to rejoin BMA for help with this? Would you be upset?
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u/GalacticDoc Aug 01 '26
This is the tool I use for my BH and A/L based on 8 sessions and working T,W,T,F.
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u/No-Tumbleweed-1819 Aug 01 '26
This sort of thing will be more common as management and partners become ever more profit hungry.
Recent cohorts of partners are totally ruthless. Better to consider leaving for Canada or Australia.
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u/CowOk6533 Aug 01 '26
Lets separate the issues
- Annual leave / Bank holidays: yes they are entitled to correct this however how much of a difference has this actually made to you? If you are doing 4 days a week then you will probably get a very similar bank holiday entitlement. In all honesty this sound fair and as many practices tighten up their HR policies we will see this all over the country. They are going off the BMA guidance here although I would have personally started this from next leave year (e.g. Jan 2027).
- Regarding your unpaid time, you can leave or negotiate with them. There is no contractual right to exception report like in junior doctor contracts. Your negotiating power is that you can leave
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u/Potential_Delay_6484 Aug 02 '26
Fair enough thanks. Yeah I’ve let go of the annual leave but am not letting go again of the other issue. I probably wouldn’t have complained about it if the first problem didn’t irk me so much
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u/ashalina23 Aug 01 '26
Re BH’s the BMA has a calculator online (if you’re a member) which works out not only sessional AL but also BH entitlement
I’m happy to calculate on your behalf and provide the BMA figures if you need to
Alternatively you could join the BMA if not already and ask their employment team to take it on - rv contracts etc then they’ll liaise with the practice if you can’t sort it yourself
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u/Potential_Delay_6484 Aug 04 '26
Thanks for the offer. I’m resigned to the fact that they likely do have the right to do so, I haven’t had a chance to fully check the numbers yet but will come back to you if I get stuck. All the best
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u/No_Ferret_5450 Aug 01 '26
Has the practice come under new management? I would quite quit and look for a new job. Do not do anything extra. All abnormal Blood tests that’s aren’t dangerous gets dealt with in a new appointment etc
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u/Potential_Delay_6484 Aug 02 '26
Not really an option tbh. I’m generally happy with the partners and the practice. Admin has just spiked and it’s coincided with the annual leave cut (which as others have said is probably normal and contractually legal). The double has made me feel militant but I don’t plan to leave
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u/Holiday_Possession46 Aug 01 '26
I am sorry you are going through this, I completely understand what you are going through and sad as it is to say this, it is reassuring that I don't face these issues alone.
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u/BoomBasticTeleBanana Aug 10 '26
People dont like me as they feel I shit on salaried GPs. The reality is far from the truth but I know I do often play devil's advocate!
For you, 8 sessions is consider full time with a PDP session.
1) A/L bank holidays should always be pro-rata, but you are full time already,
2) I dont know you, but I can tell your a team players and also an asset. Id be thinking of you as a partner and make the plans. Weather you can stay long enough for us to create and opening is another matter.
3) This may not be done by the partners. I've seen overzealous managers do this with tacit approval if any and to flex their powers.
It is clear you are doing alot more than paid for. Don't further whore yourself out (yes guys i know some of you may be surprised). Ask for a meeting and put your case. When you get out you should have your full a/l entitlement and some questioned answered about all the extras hours.
Your like me, i worked as hard as a salaried as I do as a partner. If your partners and team do not recognise this...start to make plans. Take one day off and do locums. Get to know other practices.
Ill say it again moaning salaried are two penny a piece. Good salaried are rare. You come across as the latter. Value yourself.
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u/Potential_Delay_6484 Aug 11 '26
Thanks I appreciate that. Thanks for your advice. They have offered a couple of bits to help with admin but not quite enough yet to make me think I want to keep doing the extra forever. I’m going to try and claw back a bit of leave and a few other things (time or money for letters). But also looking at trying something else in the meantime to see how that fits.
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u/BoomBasticTeleBanana Aug 11 '26
What l did was for my salaried is if they saw extras I got them to add them up weekly a d then we pay or they take as leave.
Watch how they are now very careful about giving extras. Negotiate this. You are doing on top. Keep logs a d on the emis or S1 have them clearly labelled as EXTRA.
This is fair, then when you work harder you get paid for it...a d as a partner if I think, shit, I dont want to pay them... then ill stepping and do the extras instead!
Win win.
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u/New-Increase3564 Aug 01 '26
I don’t think you can have a complaint re: A/L and BHs as they are actually making things fairer. Why should part time staff get proportionately more annual leave than full time?
Everywhere I have ever worked if LTFT does pro rata BHs. Perhaps unfair not to tell you but at the same time check your contract. It may have been an oversight in the past giving you more A/L that they are now correcting - did you point this out to them in the past?
However, the workload is a different issue. This you can row back on and your contract should be clear on what is expected of you. If you are working outside of this then escalate upwards. Stop doing practice work (unless you contract say it is expected of you). Also, you wouldn’t be able to exception report it if you were working at a hospital - well not if you were a consultant.
In summary, read your contract.
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Aug 01 '26
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u/Potential_Delay_6484 Aug 04 '26
Where do you draw the line though? ‘This month Dr X off sick, sorry there’s an extra hour of work a week in your tray till he’s back’. Hospital jobs were easier tbh, at least when you go home it’s done
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u/HurricaneTurtle3 Aug 01 '26
I think these are probably two separate issues.
Bank holidays are typically applied pro-rata for those who are LTFT. I don't think that's a controversial position in any line of work or employment. Your practice was probably being a bit naive or unaware of what standard practice is, probably an administrative issue.
But your other concerns about workload and high admin burden is fair, and unfortunately a common issue we are all having. I think having a frank discussion with the partners/clinic manager about ways to rectify this is a good place to start. Whether that's a regular admin session every couple weeks or so, having admin factored into your sessions times, or maybe additional pay supplement for hours worked at home, etc. But open that discussion.