The new GP pay and pensions system was planned to launch imminently. However following final performance testing the launch has now been postponed. GPs and practices should continue to use Open Exeter until notified otherwise. PCSE are communicating to all practices and LMCs to confirm this. As a key stakeholder, GPCE has been central to testing and questioning the new system and, while we are disappointed by the delay, we are glad that that a system which is not 100% ready for use is being held back until such a time as it is.
NHSE/I wrote to practices last week, setting out the reasons for introducing the new system. The letter also explained that an end goal is to ensure that no practice should have their payments negatively affected by the system switch. Testing has shown that this is largely the case but that around 200 practices might experience that affect without further reconciliation work. PCSE have contacted those practices to offer patient list reconciliation exercises to correct these anomalies and the majority have responded. However, we understand that around 50 practices have not and we would urge those practices to do so at the earliest opportunity. Undertaking this work will result in practices receiving the correct payment.
For the majority of practices, we anticipate no difference, but are taking a precautionary approach and will be closely scrutinising the early performance of the system. We have absolute assurance that robust business continuity arrangements are in place to enable payment if there is major problem.