Locum Reimbursement for Sickness / Maternity / Paternity Leave
When a Salaried GP or GP partner is absent due to sickness, maternity and paternity leave, the practice is eligible to receive funding towards the cost of cover for that GP.
Process for Sick Leave
Practices will need to complete the following embedded application form:
Once complete practices will need to return the form to the General Medical Advice and Support Team (GMAST) at england.gp-contracting@nhs.net with a copy of the following:
- The sick note for the period of absence confirming the first day of sick leave
- Confirmation of sick leave taken in the last 52 weeks
- Confirmation of the sickness entitlement
- For a Salaried GP - extract from the contract stating sick pay entitlement.
- For a partner - extract from the partnership agreement stating drawing during sickness.
Practices are entitled to claim support for a maximum of 26 weeks at a maximum full rate of £1751.52 per week and then 26 weeks at a maximum half rate of £875.76 per week within a 12-month rolling period. The entitlement begins after the first 2 weeks of sickness.
Process for Maternity Leave
Practices will need to complete the following embedded application form:
Once complete practices will need to return the form to the General Medical Advice and Support Team (GMAST) at england.gp-contracting@nhs.net with a copy of the following:
- Copy of the relevant page of the employment contract or partnership agreement which confirms the length of time the GP will receive full pay during their maternity leave.
- MATB1 Form
- A letter from the GP stating when they plan to start Maternity Leave.
Practices are entitled to claim support for a maximum of 26 weeks to cover maternity leave. The first 2 weeks will be at a rate of £1143.06 per week and thereafter at a rate of £1751.52 per week for the remainder of the period.
Process for Paternity Leave
Practices will need to complete the following embedded application form
Once complete practices will need to return the form to the General Medical Advice and Support Team (GMAST) at england.gp-contracting@nhs.net with a copy of the following:
• Copy of the relevant page of the employment contract or partnership agreement which confirms that the GP will be paid their full salary for the duration of the leave.
• MATB1 Form.
• A letter from the GP stating when they plan to start Paternity Leave.
Practices are entitled to claim support for a maximum of 2 weeks at a maximum rate of £1143.06 per week.
Form LOC6 – General Claim Form
Practices will also need to complete and submit the following embedded LOC6 General Claim form, on all applications (sick/maternity/paternity) and provide the relevant supporting documents (i.e. invoices for the period of the claim).
Practices must ensure that the invoice weekly breakdown tab within the LOC6 form is completed. The sessions completed per GP providing cover along with the invoice amount or salary paid to the GP providing the cover must be entered in the relevant section.
LOC6 forms should be returned monthly using a separate claim form for each absent GP for maternity and sick pay claims.
Application forms will be processed in a timely manner if all the required information and documents are submitted. Unfortunately, GMAST will not be able to process claims where vital information is missing and will return these forms to the practice. Once GMAST receives the application forms and appropriate supporting documents they will request approval from the practice’s CCG. They will notify the practice of the outcome of the request and send any claim forms as appropriate.
Where practices have any queries they should contact:
england.gp-contracting@nhs.net