Seniority payments were a part of the remuneration system for General Practitioners (GPs) in the UK. These payments were introduced to reward experience, acknowledging the years of service and the evolving expertise GPs acquired over their careers. For many years, seniority payments were a key feature of the NHS pensionable salary for GPs.
Seniority payments were based on a sliding scale, with payments increasing incrementally as GPs gained experience in practice. The system worked by providing additional funding to GPs based on the number of years they had been working as a GP. These payments were intended to reflect the increasing responsibility, clinical expertise, and leadership skills that come with experience.
In the earlier systems, seniority payments were tied to the number of years a GP had been working in NHS practice, with thresholds at various milestones, such as 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service. As GPs reached these milestones, their pay would rise, with payments reaching a maximum level at the peak of a GP’s career.
For many years, seniority payments were viewed as a vital tool for incentivising experienced GPs to remain in practice and continue delivering high-quality care. It also provided a mechanism for GPs to be fairly remunerated for their skills and knowledge.
Seniority payments were particularly important in the context of the evolving GP workforce, where many GPs had invested years of professional development to meet the changing demands of patient care. These payments were seen as a recognition of the vital contribution that long-serving GPs made to the NHS.
In 2015, the NHS made changes to the GP contract, which included the phasing out of seniority payments. This decision was part of a wider set of reforms aimed at creating a more streamlined and equitable system of GP remuneration. The phased removal of seniority payments started in 2016 and was fully completed by 2020.
While the removal of these payments has been a topic of debate, it was justified as part of the effort to shift towards more structured and predictable pay scales within the NHS. The end of seniority payments has also been part of efforts to improve the sustainability of GP funding and redirect resources into different areas of general practice, such as team-based care and expanded roles for healthcare professionals.
The discontinuation of seniority payments has left some GPs feeling undervalued, especially those who had expected to rely on these payments as they approached the later stages of their careers. However, the focus on modernising GP pay systems means that new approaches to rewarding experience and expertise are being explored.
While seniority payments may no longer be part of the contract, there are ongoing conversations about how to ensure GPs of all levels of experience are fairly remunerated and supported. Many GPs now look to other ways of recognising experience, including roles in leadership, teaching, and involvement in the development of local healthcare services.
Seniority payments were a long-standing feature of the GP pay system, reflecting the value placed on experience and commitment in general practice. While they have now been phased out, they remain a significant part of the history of NHS remuneration for GPs, and their removal continues to shape discussions on the future of GP funding and workforce development.