MPS0701 UK GP Specialty Training.

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MEDICAL PROTECTION SOCIETY

PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT AND EXPERT ADVICE

Specialty training in
general practice
in the United Kingdom

SUBSCRIPTION RATES APRIL 2009

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MEMBERSHIP HELPLINE 0845 718 7187

Professional protection whilst you

train to be a GP – an explanation of
the subscription rates available
Whilst working in a hospital setting you will be protected by NHS indemnity
from the financial consequences of claims for clinical negligence. This is why
the basic MPS subscription for membership for a year’s training in hospital is
so low. This rate offers access to assistance with other problems you may
encounter that NHS indemnity does not cover, including:

GMC inquiries
police investigations related to clinical practice
disciplinary procedures
complaints
appearance at a coroner’s inquest

Working in general practice brings with it its own problems and challenges.
Unlike working in the hospital sector, you can personally become the subject
of a claim for clinical negligence. The subscription rate for a GP specialty
trainee, undertaking a full year in general practice, is considerably more than
the rate for a trainee based in hospital. This reflects the additional risk should
you personally become subject to a claim for clinical negligence.

Changes in GP training
We recognise that training for general practice is becoming ever more flexible
and that under the new GP curriculum considerably more doctors in GP
training will spend some time in GP placements during the predominantly
hospital based years.

Reimbursement of subscription
PCTs should reimburse the difference between the subscription you have paid
for any given 12 month period and the annual hospital rate, ensuring that all
trainees incur the same cost over the course of their training. When you
commence GP training we can provide you with a letter to help you with
reimbursement.

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MPS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MPS

are discretionary as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Limitations of NHS indemnity

Whilst working within the NHS you will be protected against the financial
consequences of negligence by NHS indemnity. However, there are many
other problems that you may encounter in your professional work where you
can apply to MPS for assistance.

Service NHS indemnity MPS membership

Coroners’ inquests No Yes

Advice on complaints No Yes

Good Samaritan acts No Yes

GMC proceedings No Yes

Criminal matters arising from medical

practice, eg, manslaughter No Yes

Insurance and other medical reports No Yes

Ombudsman and public inquiries No Yes

Ethical matters No Yes

Press and media enquiries No Yes

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EMAIL member.help@mps.org.uk

Subscription rate options

(including existing VTS)
Option 1 – Full year in hospital or general practice
If, during your training, you know you will spend a full year in either a general
practice or hospital setting the following rates are available:
GRADE RATE (£)

Full year in general practice GPT 1,722

Full year in hospital practice BMG 48
Part time G12 1,032

We acknowledge that as part of your training, whilst based in hospitals, you

may need to make regular visits to meet with your trainer in a general practice
setting. To accommodate for this our £48 hospital rate allows for up to 1
session per month (6 days per year) working in a general practice setting.
If however, you spend more than this amount of time in the general practice
setting you will need to choose one of the split year grades. (Option 2 below)

Option 2 – Split year

If you are training on a part-time basis and you know that over the membership
year you will spend a set number of months in a hospital post and a set number
of months in a GP post you may prefer one of the following subscription rates:
GRADE RATE (£)

11 months’ GP practice + 1 month’s hospital practice G01 1,584

10 months’ GP practice + 2 months’ hospital practice G02 1,446
9 months’ GP practice + 3 months’ hospital practice G03 1,302
8 months’ GP practice + 4 months’ hospital practice G04 1,164
7 months’ GP practice + 5 months’ hospital practice G05 1,026
6 months’ GP practice + 6 months’ hospital practice G06 888
5 months’ GP practice + 7 months’ hospital practice G07 744
4 months’ GP practice + 8 months’ hospital practice G08 606
3 months’ GP practice + 9 months’ hospital practice G09 468
2 months’ GP practice + 10 months’ hospital practice G10 330
1 month’s GP practice + 11 months’ hospital practice G11 186

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MPS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MPS

are discretionary as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Option 3 – 3 year full time rate

With the introduction of GP Specialty training MPS also offers a subscription
option to those members commencing a 3 year GP Specialty Training Scheme
who plan to work on a full-time basis.

This option is for those who need greater flexibility in their professional
protection as a result of greater movement between posts in general practice
and the hospital setting. Members paying this subscription would agree to
remain in membership with MPS for their full 3 years of training enabling us to
set an ‘average’ rate on a yearly basis.

The advantage of paying this rate is that members would not need to let MPS
know the amount of time spent in either a hospital or a general practice setting
in any given year of training.

GRADE RATE (£)

GP Specialty Training (For 2009/2010 year) GT3 876

Work outside the NHS

You can earn up to £7,500pa. gross for full-time (pro rata for part-time) from
other non-specialist unindemnified practice (see definition below) and still pay
these rates. This applies provided the earnings do not derive from obstetric,
cosmetic/aesthetic (including Botox or collagen treatments), refractive laser
work, terminations of pregnancy, circumcision, any services in primary care
– eg, GP freelance or out-of-hours work, or maxillo-facial surgery and any work
undertaken outside the UK, in which case you should contact Membership
Services on 0845 718 7187 for advice.

Non-specialist unindemnified practice is defined as practice carried out for a

third party where the doctor providing the treatment is not the clinician in
overall charge of the clinical care of the patient. Please contact us if your
income from this source exceeds the above limits.

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MEMBERSHIP HELPLINE 0845 718 7187

Retired/deferred membership (RDM)

Free membership is offered to members who have retired or voluntarily
undertake no active practice at all. It may also be appropriate for those who
are temporarily not practising – for example due to maternity leave,
sabbaticals or other prolonged absence from work for three months or more.
Holidays do not count.

Should you at some date recommence work, your normal membership can
be resumed upon payment of the appropriate subscription. NB: It is important
to contact MPS before you return to work in order to be eligible for the
benefits of membership. Contact Membership Services for further details.

Important information – please read

Change of membership grade

If you tell us about a grade change that results in a lower subscription rate, a refund of one
year’s subscription overpayment may be available.

Duration of membership
Membership of MPS is normally available on an annual basis. In some circumstances new
members may be offered 6 months’ membership.

Tax
Your subscription may be accepted by the Inland Revenue as a legitimate professional
expense for income tax purposes.

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MPS0701 UK GP Specialty Training.QXD:87127_MPS0332
MPS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MPS
are discretionary as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
An easy way to pay
Provided your annual subscription is
not less than £100, you can spread
the cost of your subscription at no
extra cost by paying in 10 monthly
instalments by direct debit. We
strongly recommend that you choose
this payment option since it offers a
number of notable advantages to
both you and MPS.
Ease of payment
Spreading out payment over months
2 to 11 of your subscription year will
assist your personal cash flow.
No surcharge
There is no additional interest or
administrative charge if you pay in
instalments.
Efficiency
Collection of your subscription by
direct debit is more efficient for the
MPS, allowing us to achieve cost
savings which can ultimately be
passed on to you, the member.
Convenience
Your subscription will be renewed
automatically each year. However,
if your personal or professional
circumstances have changed you
must contact Membership Services
to ensure that you are paying the
correct subscription.
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Security
Automatic renewal of your MPS
membership will help avoid a lapse in
your membership.
Direct debit guarantee
This guarantee is offered by all banks
and building societies that take part in
the direct debit scheme. The
efficiency and security of the scheme
is monitored and protected by your
own bank or building society. If the
amounts to be paid or the payment
dates change MPS will notify you ten
working days in advance of your
account being debited or as
otherwise agreed.
If an error is made by MPS or your
bank or building society you are
guaranteed a full and immediate
refund from your branch of the
amount paid.
You can cancel a direct debit at any
time by writing to your bank or
building society. Please also send a
copy of your letter to MPS.
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Membership Services Telephone 0845 718 7187

Medical Protection Society Facsimile 0113 241 0500
Granary Wharf House member.help@mps.org.uk
Leeds LS11 5PY www.mps.org.uk

The Medical Protection Society is the leading provider

of comprehensive professional indemnity and expert
advice to doctors, dentists and health professionals
around the world. We are a mutual, not-for-profit
organisation offering more than 260,000 members help
with legal and ethical problems that arise from their
professional practice. This includes clinical negligence
claims, complaints, medical council inquiries, legal and
ethical dilemmas, disciplinary procedures, inquests and
fatal-accident inquiries.

Fairness is at the heart of how we conduct our business.

We actively protect and promote the interests of members
and the wider profession. Equally, we believe that patients
who have suffered harm from negligent treatment should
receive fair compensation. We promote safer practice by
running risk management and education programmes to
reduce avoidable harm.

MPS is not an insurance company. The benefits of

membership are discretionary – this allows us the
flexibility to provide help and support even in unusual
circumstances.

The Medical Protection Society Limited

A company limited by guarantee
Registered in England No. 36142 at
33 Cavendish Square, London
W1G 0PS, UK.

Information in this booklet was correct at the time of

going to press – March 2009. Please visit our website
for the most up-to-date information.
MPS0701: 03/09