I am happy to report a significant reduction in the GPDF levy for 2020 from 5.4 pence to 4 pence per patient. This follows on from a 10% reduction from 6p and a £17,000 rebate of funds to the LMC this year. Because of this, the LMC will be able to reduce its own additional voluntary levy from practices down to 4p next year, though as the request for the deduction for the January quarter payment has already been made, the further reduction will not filter through to your practice until April when the appropriate adjustments will be made.
The very significant reductions in your additional voluntary levy over the last couple of years have been made possible because of significant changes within GPDF and GPC/BMA, in effect transferring ownership/membership of GPDF entirely into the hands of LMCs, rather than its members being the members of GPC. The historical arrangements had led to an inevitably conflicted situation with GPDF, therefore, having very little meaningful control over its costs subsidising GPC activity over and above that provided for by BMA membership fees. The revised arrangements, combined with robust negotiation by the GPDF leadership, has led to considerable reductions in the cost of GPDF subsidy to the BMA for GPC activity, whilst ensuring that the work of the latter in representing general practice nationally and in providing much needed national advice and support to LMCs, has been able to continue without detriment.
I do hope that constituents continue to see the value of paying the additional voluntary levy alongside your practice’s statutory/administrative levy and the LMC would like to thank you for your ongoing support in this matter.
GPDF has produced a guidance note, for all GPs, to explain a little more about its work on behalf of GPs and PMs, and why paying its levy is so important. Further information is available at the GPDF website https://www.gpdf.org.uk/
Finally, our Executive Secretary, Bob Morley, is the LMC’s nominated member of the GPDF, and one of its Board of directors, as well as being the regional representative on GPC. He would be delighted to answer any questions you have about the GPDF, its levy and the activities of it, the GPC or BMA, or to provide further information.