PCN directors back including GPs in ARRS

PCN leaders support the proposal to allow Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) funding to be used to employ GPs.

Clinical directors have told Pulse PCN the change would allow greater flexibility, but warned balances would need to remain in place to ensure the funding via the core contract remains in place.

It comes after locum GP Dr Stephen Katona last week launched a petition arguing GP practices should be able to use the money to pay for roles currently excluded from the ARRS – namely practice nurses, and salaried and locum GPs.

The petition currently has more than 3,200 signatures and has been supported by the Doctors’ Association UK. At 10,000 signatures, the Government will be required to respond to the petition.

Dr Sarit Ghosh, clinical director at Enfield Unity PCN, said: ‘There would need to be checks and balances to ensure that practices continue to fund GP activities through the core contact. This would probably make it more complicated to administer both for providers and commissioners.

‘However, having said that I would be very supportive of using a proportion of ARRS funding for locum GPs which would allow more flexibility in how we deliver services, maintain resilience and help maximise use of budgets. This could be capped by NHS England as 10-20% of the allocated funding so as not to destabilise the other roles.’

Others have highlighted that adding GPs to the ARRS would not address the challenge of recruiting staff.

Dr Kieran Gilmartin, clinical director of Fareham and Portchester PCN, said: ‘It would be good to add [GPs] but the issue is that there are not enough of them out there to recruit. On top of that, in many cases ARRS funding will be taken up by other roles. In our PCN for example, we have no budget left to spend of ARRS.’

He added: ‘All roles should have been available under ARRS from the start, without such restrictions on roles which have been gradually added to over time.’

Under the ARRS, PCNs in England are given funding to hire pharmacists, physiotherapists, physician assistants and advanced nurse practitioners among other professionals.

It comes as the Government refused to say whether it has any plans for GPs to be included in the scheme going forward.

Pulse has also reported that a Surrey GP practice is making three GPs redundant due to ‘new ways of working’, including virtual appointments and the use of ARRS staff.