Practices have been given the opportunity to offer pharmacists £20,000 to partner up with them under the new GP contract.

The updated contract, announced yesterday (6 February), offers first-time partners a £20,000 one-off payment, plus an additional £3,000 for business training under the New to Partnership Payment.

As well as GPs, the offer is also open to pharmacists and other practice staff, such as nurses and practice managers, that are offered a partnership within a practice.

The payment is ‘initially a loan’ but is expected to change to permanent payment after the new partner remains in post for a minimum number of years, although the length of time has not yet been specified.

The payment represents part of a £94m cash injection to address recruitment and retention issues in general practice.

Full details of the scheme will be published after ‘ongoing engagement’ with the general practice sector, according to the contract.

The contract added: ‘The scheme is expected to evolve in the light of experience. Its initial phase is likely to run for two or three years.’

More to follow...