Life after practice

We want to ensure that your life after clinical practice continues to be rewarding. If you're considering leaving general practice, support is available through the National GP Retention Scheme. The scheme is a package of financial and educational support to help doctors, in England, who might otherwise leave the profession, remain in clinical general practice.

The scheme is open to doctors who meet ALL of the following criteria:

1. Where a doctor is seriously considering leaving or has left general practice (but is still on the National Medical Performers List) due to:
   1. personal reasons – such as caring responsibilities for family members (children or adults) or personal health reasons OR
   2. approaching retirement OR
   3. requiring greater flexibility in order to undertake other work either within or outside of general practice
2. And when a regular part-time role does not meet the doctor’s need for flexibility, for example the requirement for short clinics or annualised hours.
3. And where there is a need for additional educational supervision. For example, a newly qualified doctor needing to work 1-4 sessions a week due to caring responsibilities or those working only 1-2 sessions where pro rata study leave allowance is inadequate to maintain continuing professional development and professional networks.

At the RCGP your wellbeing is always a top priority. If you are considering taking a career break from general practice or you are returning to practice in the UK after a period away, the BMA have a web page dedicated to providing career break advice for GPs.

It is possible to enter or return to NHS general practice later in your career or after a period of retirement.

The NHS GP Induction and Refresher (I&R) Scheme is designed to provide a safe, supported and direct route for qualified GPs to join or return to NHS general practice.

The scheme can be tailored to meet your needs, experiences and personal commitments and also includes financial support. It is available to:

• UK trained GPs returning to the UK from working or volunteering abroad
• UK trained GPs taking a gap of over two years from clinical work as NHS GP
• GPs from abroad

If you are seriously considering leaving general practice, support is available through the National GP Retention Scheme - a package of financial and educational support to help doctors, in England, who might otherwise leave the profession, remain in clinical general practice.

The scheme is open to doctors who meet ALL of the following criteria:

1. Where a doctor is seriously considering leaving or has left general practice (but is still on the National Medical Performers List) due to:
   1. Personal reasons – such as caring responsibilities for family members (children or adults) or personal health reasons OR
   2. Approaching retirement OR
   3. Require greater flexibility in order to undertake other work either within or outside general practice.
2. And when a regular part-time role does not meet the doctor’s need for flexibility, for example the requirement for short clinics or annualised hours.
3. And where there is a need for additional educational supervision. For example, a newly qualified doctor needing to work 1-4 sessions a week due to caring responsibilities or those working only 1-2 sessions where pro rata study leave allowance is inadequate to maintain continuing professional development and professional networks.

Leaving the Performers' List

Care should be given when changing your status on the GMC register and giving up or restoring your licence to practice or registration. If you provide medical services you need a licence to practice - this may include jobs that do not involve direct patient contact. It is important to check the GMC guidelines and seek advice from your current responsible officer before giving up your licence.

Coming off the Performers' List can be much easier than getting back on. If there is any chance at all that you will wish to see patients in the future, consider remaining as a locum whilst you think about your options. The decision-making process may be difficult so discussions with friends, colleagues, your appraiser or LMC may be helpful.

Primary Care Support England's Performers' Lists' webpage provides further information.

Making a change

To change your status (e.g. from locum to salaried), registered address or place of work on the Performers List, download the National Performers Lists change notification form.

A guidance document is available from NHS England: Supporting doctors who undertake a low volume of NHS general practice clinical work. This includes information on appraisals and the form to complete if you are undertaking less than 40 NHS GP sessions per year.

This is a scheme supported by national funding, delivered by ICSs/STPs, aimed at supporting GPs through creating an opportunity to develop mentoring skills, and to working in a different way. The overarching aim is to retain experienced GPs working in primary care through creating this portfolio working opportunity, while supporting less experienced GPs through high quality mentoring.

Commitment: Three clinical sessions and one mentoring session per week, with mentoring training leading to mentoring qualification.

For more details about local availability, check with your local PCN.

Supporting Mentors Scheme Guidance for 2020/21 from NHS England

The National Association of Sessional GPs provide information and support to those working as locum GPs.

The key resource for information and advice on pensions is the BMA pensions web pages.