NHS and furlough

PeterHic

Hi,
I'm a locum GP and have been working for two years as an NHS employee with a 14 hours per week fixed term contract at a local cottage hospital. Due to Coronavirus, a decision was made to re-designate the use of the hospital and my contract was not renewed on 31st March. I was not offered alternative work. I have been sent a P45. I have no current income from any other source and so this has hit me hard financially. I would like to ask to be furloughed. It is probable that in due course (it may be months) I will obtain work in the NHS, either in the local hospital or elsewhere. The NHS appears to have a presumption against furloughing, albeit exceptions can legitimately be made. Does my situation sound sufficiently exceptional that I may be successful in obtaining furlough?

ToxicWomble

I’m sure there are plenty of hospitals that could use your skills/knowledge at this time.
But to answer your question -no
Yiu can only be furloughed from a current job/contract. As you have none, you aren’t eligible 

poppy12345

PeterHic said:

Hi,
I'm a locum GP and have been working for two years as an NHS employee with a 14 hours per week fixed term contract at a local cottage hospital. Due to Coronavirus, a decision was made to re-designate the use of the hospital and my contract was not renewed on 31st March. I was not offered alternative work. I have been sent a P45. I have no current income from any other source and so this has hit me hard financially. I would like to ask to be furloughed. It is probable that in due course (it may be months) I will obtain work in the NHS, either in the local hospital or elsewhere. The NHS appears to have a presumption against furloughing, albeit exceptions can legitimately be made. Does my situation sound sufficiently exceptional that I may be successful in obtaining furlough?

It would have been better to start your own thread but to answer your question, no you can't be furloughed.

Providing you don't have savings/capital of more than £16,000 then look at claiming universal credit. A claim for UC will end any tax credits you may already be claiming. Use a benefits calculator.

Dr_Crypto

My understanding is that the NHS is not furloughing people. They are being redeployed if their usual work is cancelled. For those people who need to shield they are trying to offer home working or, where this is not possible, they are paying people to stay at home idle. Other people are too high risk for face to face clinical work so re being found other duties for example telephone calls with patients or administrative duties. 
Childcare is open to NHS staff and the nurseries attached to many hospitals have boosted capacity. 

Dr_Crypto

PeterHic said:

Hi,
I'm a locum GP and have been working for two years as an NHS employee with a 14 hours per week fixed term contract at a local cottage hospital. Due to Coronavirus, a decision was made to re-designate the use of the hospital and my contract was not renewed on 31st March. I was not offered alternative work. I have been sent a P45. I have no current income from any other source and so this has hit me hard financially. I would like to ask to be furloughed. It is probable that in due course (it may be months) I will obtain work in the NHS, either in the local hospital or elsewhere. The NHS appears to have a presumption against furloughing, albeit exceptions can legitimately be made. Does my situation sound sufficiently exceptional that I may be successful in obtaining furlough?

No. There are plenty of roles for GPs at present. Why would you have to wait months? Could you discuss continuing to work in the re purposed hospital? It will still need experienced doctors. 

onwards&upwards

Have you started looking for work?  The GP shortage hasn’t gone away, I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding something quickly.  I believe those companies providing video/Skype appointments are doing well.

hb2

The NHS doesn't have a choice whether to furlough or not - for the most part, it is unable to do so as wages are already paid from public funds. The only exception, as I understand it, is those few employees who do not have their wages paid/re-imbursed by the government. This does not include people who work in NHS GP surgeries as the surgeries claim those wages from the government (for transparency, I worked in GP surgeries for 30 years and this was finally clarified when staff were able to enrol in the NHS pension scheme).

PeterHic

"There are plenty of roles for GPs at present."
Ha ha ha. Where did you get that from? I have GP colleagues who are being laid off or are having sessions cancelled. 
Dr Crypto has not been following the medical news (take a look at 1st May GP magazine) or he would know that many locum GPs across the UK are struggling to find work. In my area (SW Scotland) GP appointments and A&E attendances are down by ~50% and Out of Hours work is down by 90%. Get your facts right.

Dr_Crypto

Not up here that’s not the case. My mates who are GP partners cannot get Locums for love nor money. 111 are so short they have even recruited doctors back from retirement! 

diggingdude

A Doctor who can't find work isn't looking.  It may not be the role you want but plenty of work out there (related to 3 doctors in different parts of the country)