Good to see extensive negotiations between GPC Wales, the Welsh government and NHS Wales recently paying off with a contract agreement GP leaders believe will help ensure a sustainable future for doctors and practice staff

We look forward to seeing the results of the @bma.org.uk, @theigpm.bsky.social and Practice Index finance survey of GP practices in England which harnesses two years of practice accounts to help drive the Association’s GP contract negotiations

The winter issue of #AISMA Doctor Newsline, featuring useful tips and advice for GP practices, is now available for #AISMA clients from their specialist medical accountant

Encouraging to see the optimism among GPs in Scotland following their government’s £250m package announcement. #AISMA wishes GP leaders well in their work to finalise the details for practices

Coming soon: watch out for the winter issue of #AISMA Doctor Newsline, available to our clients from their #AISMA accountants. As usual it is full of useful tips and advice to steer you through the challenges ahead

2/2 Could there be more delegation between teams? Do you need to recruit if someone leaves or can it be covered with systems and streamlining?

1/2 How about a New Year staffing review? Look at rotas, overtime and skill mix. Are tasks being done by the most appropriate team member at the right cost level?

#AISMA wishes all its clients and followers a happy and profitable 2026. Stay tuned for more tips and advice from us in the weeks and months ahead

3/3 Tax rates aside, your tax bill due on31 January may seem high because it comprises any balancing tax charge, together with the first payment on account towards next year’s tax liability

2/3 There is a late filing penalty of £100 for tax returns filed after this date

1/3 The clock’s ticking. Just over a month to go before your January tax payment and online tax return must be submitted. The deadline is midnight on 31 January

Merry Christmas from #AISMA to all our GP and doctor clients, our sponsors and followers

Annual accounts meetings tip: if in a larger GP partnership, consider a prior meeting with your accountant, practice manager and finance partner so detailed queries can be resolved. At the big meeting you can concentrate on the bigger picture and strategic issues

Many are only just working through the implications of last month’s #Budget so dare we hope we can all get to the end of the year without further speculation on what’s in the next one?

Remember this: every good-looking business opportunity comes at a cost. That cost may not be obvious, and sometimes it is simply ‘partner’ time – but time is your most limited resource

3/3 Budgets: First ask how much you want to draw and what profit level will support that. Once you have a clear target, work backwards. What income would you need and what costs are acceptable to get there? Then your budget is a practical tool not a passive record

2/3 Budgets: Real financial planning needs to look forward. Look at modelling the figures in a different way to encourage more strategic thinking and realistic goals

1/3 Budgets: Historic data based on past financial accounts is often used when drawing up budgets and helps spot trends and avoid past mistakes. But it can limit your aspiration and achievement

Get a date in the diary early for the annual meeting with your #AISMA accountant. The larger the partnership the more difficult it is to get everyone together, so give plenty of notice for the meeting

3/3 Help with the expense of subletting part of GP practice premises could be available. Check it out with your #AISMA accountant

2/3 Whether to house PCN staff, host community outreach teams or support neighbourhood health initiatives, sharing space can bring clinical and operational benefits to GP practice. And it can also help offset rising estate costs

1/3 Subletting part of the practice premises or hiring out space for sessional use has become an attractive option for GP practices who are lucky enough to have the space. Take advice from a propert specialist though, as property reimbursement rules can be affected

Another milestone - we now have over 1,500 followers on social media, and we are still counting. Thank you to all our followers for your support. We hope you are inclined to follow the wealth of tips and advice #AISMA brings you

If you use the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) then the Department of Health and Social Care requests you review stocks and order any additional supplies asap to ensure you have enough to last 12 months.

Just a week to go if you have not responded to the CQC consultation on future inspections. The consultation closes at 5pm on 11 December

3/3 And there is also money in Scotland to cover non-staff expenses, enhancements to the SFE to support locum cover, additional funding for quality, digital improvements and to address health inequalities

2/3 General practice in Scotland will get £250m a year for three years with £148.3m of this to ‘stabilise and improve’ the workforce to cope with the huge pressures faced by all

1/3 Best wishes to Scottish GPC negotiators in agreeing with Scottish government more details of their deal ending a formal dispute over funding restoration

2/2 Increased numbers of GPs taking dividends from limited companies also face a 2% dividend tax rate rise April 2026, both at the ordinary and upper rates, on top of tax rises on savings and property rental income, although Scottish rental income tax rates are set locally #Budget

1/2 The #Budget brings little cheer for GP partners facing huge uncertainty under the NHS 10 Year Plan, warns #AISMA adviser Andy Pow. Many may work fewer sessions due to a tax threshold freeze until 2031 and losing their tax free personal and childcare allowances

Budget day! #AISMA will be giving its response and examining all the small print to keep doctors clients abreast of the changes and to help them figure out their options across the financial board

Following all the speculation, at #AISMA we are poised for a busier response than ever from doctor clients in the wake of tomorrow’s Budget

More remote consultations, integrated teams and multidisciplinary approaches mean many GP practices are now looking at opportunities to share or sublet space to complimentary service providers, such as other healthcare professionals, charities, or Trusts

2/2 #AISMA is calling for working capital and cashflow issues for the new neighbourhood organisations to be worked through and for there to be a continued focus on practice-level funding

1/2 #AISMA’s leaders continue to be concerned about the level of risk for general practice posed by employment, premises and VAT issues arising from the 10-Year Health Plan for England

The Department for Health and Social Care is reminding organisations using the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) to order any additional supplies needed as soon as possible to ensure sufficient supplies for a year

Carr-Hill formula review will need fresh investment to succeed, @aismanewsline.bsky.social accountants warn

In the wake of a recent National Audit Office @NAOorguk grim report on clinical negligence costs, what reforms would you like to see to ease the financial burden on the NHS?

So sad to see @rcgp figures revealing nearly a third of GPs are unlikely to work in general practice in 5 years’ time. Stress is the main factor and #AISMA members daily see much unnecessary financial related bureaucracy still adding to this

Clarity is still awaited on the 10-Year Health Plan for England. #AISMA accountants remain ready to contribute their expertise and share learning to the implementers of the programme, particularly from our experiences of helping set up PCNs

Watch out for #AISMA’s views - out shortly - to news of the setting up of a six month review of the GP Carr-Hill funding formula which aims to achieve a fairer distribution of funding

A reminder that all GP practice staff taking part in NHSE’s clinical systems experience survey for general practice have been given a deadline of 16 November for responses

Looking forward: representatives from #AISMA member firms are meeting tomorrow for a strategy event to help shape the future direction of the Association.

Not to be missed for any serious GP accountants – so get it in your diary: next year’s #AISMA conference will be in Daventry on 28/29 April

A practice should be able to be run regardless of the individuals involved. It should not depend on a small number of people doing everything their way, with no contingency plans if someone leaves or takes long term leave

Every process in the practice should have a written system. It should not be dependent on a partner or an individual staff member.

3/3 For flu vaccines, also review the CQRS Annual Activity Summary Report, showing the number of Items of Service reimbursed. This figure should roughly match the number of flu vaccines claimed

2/3 It is wise to check both the flu vaccine quantity paid and that the correct vaccine has been paid - the NHS Basic Price is different for different brands of vaccine

1/3 Don’t lose out. After GP practices’ flu vaccine claims have been submitted do remember to check all payments are accurate. ePACT2 data can support verification

Ask# AISMA! GPs’ important questions about budgets, profits and cost savings are answered in the autumn issue of #AISMA Doctor Newsline – available free from your #AISMA accountant