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GP Money Matters: GP career trends and financial planning
23:12|GP Money Matters is a series of special bonus episodes of Talking General Practice sponsored by Wesleyan where we look at key personal finance issues that affect GPs.In this episode GPonline editor Emma Bower talks to Wendy Baillie, a chartered financial planner and the retirement lead for the medical division at Wesleyan, about research the company recently undertook looking at GP career trends and GPs’ views on various personal finance issues.Wendy explains how GPs’ attitude to work has changed in recent years, the impact workload and future uncertainty about the GP contract has had on decisions to retire early or move towards a portfolio career, and what that means for GPs’ finances.She also offers some practical guidance for GPs on financial planning and ensuring they have the money they need for the future that they want.This episode was produced by Czarina Deen.This podcast is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Individual circumstances may vary.Useful linksThe research mentioned in this podcast was commissioned by Wesleyan Assurance Society – visit wesleyan.co.uk/theory-in-practice for more information. To learn more about the financial considerations discussed in this podcast, you can book an appointment with a specialist financial adviser at Wesleyan Financial Services. Charges may apply. If you want to find out more about Wesleyan following this podcast, you can visit wesleyan.co.uk/gppodcastAbout WesleyanWesleyan Financial Services supports doctors with advice shaped around the realities of the profession.From complex income structures and portfolio careers to the NHS Pension Scheme and retirement options, its Specialist Financial Advisers work closely with doctors every day. Recognised by the NHS as able to give guidance on the NHS Pension Scheme, Wesleyan brings trusted expertise to key financial decisions. Combining financial planning, investment advice and protection, it helps doctors make confident, informed choices.96% of doctors rated their specialist financial adviser as very good or excellent, reflecting a focused service that helps doctors protect their income, grow wealth and plan ahead with confidence.Remember: The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest.'WESLEYAN' is the trading name of the Wesleyan Group of companies. Financial advice is provided by Wesleyan Financial Services Ltd.Wesleyan Assurance Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Wesleyan Financial Services Ltd and Wesleyan Unit Trust Managers Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Read more information about the Wesleyan group of companies.
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44. GPs push back on list cleaning, QOF obesity flaws, ARRS underspend
27:27||Season 6, Ep. 44Nick and Emma look at the impact the current list cleaning drive has had on GP practices and explain why GP leaders have called for a pause in the process amid fears of inappropriate removals and a huge loss of funding for the profession.They talk about prescribing for obesity, after the BMA warned that the funding practices will receive for new QOF targets on this is unlikely to cover the cost of the work involved, and the union warned that some ICBs are cutting back on locally commissioned services related to prescribing Mounjaro since it has been added to the QOF.And they look at the additional roles reimbursement scheme after we found that millions of pounds earmarked for the scheme went unspent in 2025/26.Our good news story this week is about those GPs who received awards in the King’s Birthday Honours List.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful linksGP funding 'siphoned off' by unprecedented scale of patient removals, warns BMALMCs demand urgent list cleaning review as fears rise over inappropriate removalsList cleaning chaos leaves popular GP practice on the brinkWhere have GP practices been hit hardest by list cleaning?GP practices could boycott underfunded QOF obesity targetMore than £81m of ARRS cash unclaimed in 2025/26GPs recognised in King's Birthday Honours List
43. Addressing the challenges facing rural general practice
30:10||Season 6, Ep. 43This week Emma speaks to GP Dr Emma Watts, a dispensing doctor based in Surrey and the chair of the RCGP's Rural Forum, about the distinct challenges facing rural general practice. Emma discusses how urban-centric policies, mounting financial constraints, and operational pressures are driving rural practice closures. She also highlights hidden health inequalities in rural areas, such as homelessness, and explains why the government's proposed framework for a neighbourhood NHS fails to consider the reality facing remote, rural, and dispensing practices. And she explains the Rural Minds Project, an innovative training programme using virtual reality headsets to support mental health in UK farming communities. This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen. Useful linksRCGP Rural ForumRural Minds ProjectTalking General Practice episode with Dr Richard West from the Dispensing Doctors’ AssociationDispensing Doctors’ Association
42. GPs hit by list cleaning chaos, neighbourhood contracts, access vs continuity
37:26||Season 6, Ep. 42This week Nick and Emma talk about list cleaning, after an analysis by Nick showed that 350,000 patients have been removed from GP practice lists, resulting in a loss of around £45m from practice funding. Nick explains why this happens and the impact it has on individual practices.They discuss GP contracts, looking at the first area in England that has agreed a local variation to PCN contracts, BMA fears about what neighbourhood and integrated health organisation contracts could mean for general practice and whether financial pressures on the current GP contract could make GPs back an alternative model.And they look at the impact successive governments’ obsession with GP access has had, after a report from the House of Commons public accounts committee found that practices struggle to provide the care frail, older patients need because they are overwhelmed with targets linked to improving access.Our good news story this week is about an initiative in Greater Manchester that has helped cut hazardous prescribing.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful links'Aggressive' list-cleaning drive strips 350,000 patients from GP practices'We're overwhelmed' - practices swamped by scale of patient removalsGPs agree first local PCN contract variation in £10m neighbourhood dealHospital-led general practice 'likely' outcome of government NHS plans, warns BMANHS England has overloaded GPs with access targets, MPs warn
GP Money Matters: Understanding your NHS pension and the McCloud judgment
32:41|GP Money Matters is a series of special bonus episodes of Talking General Practice sponsored by Wesleyan where we look at key personal finance issues that affect GPs.In this episode GPonline editor Emma Bower talks to Wendy Baillie, a chartered financial planner and the retirement lead for the medical division at Wesleyan, about the complexities of the NHS pension scheme and the specific challenges currently facing GPs.Wendy provides a recap on the McCloud judgment, the high court ruling about unfair changes to public pension schemes, and explains why the resulting administrative backlog is making it difficult for doctors to get the finalised numbers they need to plan their retirement.She discusses the risks of making decisions about retirement without full information on your pension and practical steps GPs can take at different stages of their careers to ensure their pension is in good health.Wendy outlines what you need to consider to ensure you have the retirement you want, particularly if you hope to retire early.This episode was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful linksFind out more about Wesleyan About WesleyanWesleyan Financial Services supports doctors with advice shaped around the realities of the profession.From complex income structures and portfolio careers to the NHS Pension Scheme and retirement options, its Specialist Financial Advisers work closely with doctors every day. Recognised by the NHS as able to give guidance on the NHS Pension Scheme, Wesleyan brings trusted expertise to key financial decisions. Combining financial planning, investment advice and protection, it helps doctors make confident, informed choices.96% of doctors rated their specialist financial adviser as very good or excellent, reflecting a focused service that helps doctors protect their income, grow wealth and plan ahead with confidence.Remember: The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest.Wesleyan Financial Services Ltd (Registered in England and Wales No. 1651212) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Colmore Circus, Birmingham B4 6AR. Telephone: 0345 351 2352. Calls may be recorded to help us provide, monitor and improve our services to you.
41. How we can keep experienced GPs working in the NHS
31:34||Season 6, Ep. 41Emma speaks to Dr Nada Khan, a GP in Exeter and clinical lecturer in general practice at Exeter University, about her recent study on GP retention.In this conversation, Nada explains how GP workload has become increasingly intense, fragmented, and risk-laden, and she describes the impact of hybrid access models and moral distress on GPs - all of which is causing experienced doctors to cut back on sessions they work or leave the profession altogether.She also highlights the critical factors that help GPs stay in practice, including the importance of continuity of care, supportive practice teams, and establishing clear workload boundaries .And Nada describes what national policymakers need to understand to address the retention crisis among mid-to-late career GPs, and the practical changes individual practices can make on the ground to support their staff.This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.Useful links Sustaining a career in general practice: A qualitative study of experienced GPs in South West EnglandAdvice and guidance 'ping-pong' fuelling the GP retention crisisViewpoint: Why experienced GPs are leaving the NHS and how we can keep them
40. BMA to ballot on ‘plan B’ for GP contracts, NHS workforce plan, single patient record fears
42:57||Season 6, Ep. 40Emma and Nick talk about the ongoing dispute between the BMA and the government about this year’s GP contract and what the BMA will be asking GP practices to do from 1 June as it steps up collective action. They discuss a vote at the UK LMCs conference earlier this month, which saw LMC representatives back exploring the radical step of moving towards a hybrid NHS/private model for general practice - and the BMA’s confirmation that it plans to ballot the profession on this.They look at an update NHS England published on the GP contract at the end of last week as well as looking ahead to the government’s new NHS workforce plan, which is expected to be published next month, and what that needs to do to ensure there are enough GPs to meet the demands of an ageing population. And they talk about the government’s new Health Bill and what that means for general practice - in particular the plans for a single patient record. And we’ll be talking at This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina DeenUseful linksBMA sets out next steps as GPs ramp up collective actionBMA to ballot GPs on switch to 'Plan B' semi-private contractGP leaders vote to explore NHS/private 'dentist model' for general practiceWes Streeting’s legacy as health and social care secretaryNHS clarifies locum rules on GP reimbursement in contract updateWhat does the new Health Bill mean for GPs?GPs should be fastest-growing part of NHS workforce, experts say