Leave Entitlements
Leave Types & Rates
GPs who hold a capitation contract with a panel of 100+ patients are entitled to claim a contribution towards locum expenses for leave as below. Locum contributions are not available to those GPs with less than 100 patients. Rates shown below are for those signed up to the new 'GP Agreement 2019'. For those still on the previous 'Capitation Agreement', see S.I. No 685 of 2020.
The leave year runs 1st April to 31st March. For more detailed information on each type of leave, see below.
Claim Process
An ALF/1 form is submitted to claim annual, study or sick leave. A MLF/2 is submitted to claim for maternity, paternity or adoptive leave. These are available from your Local Health Office (LHO). Step by step instructions are on the form.
ALF/1 - when applying for sick/study/annual leave:
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Section A is completed by the GP and parts 1, 2 and 3 are forwarded to the LHO for HSE approval, no less than 2 weeks prior to leave. Part 4 should be retained by the GP.
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Section B is completed by the LHO. On approval of this leave the HSE will retain part 1 and return parts 2 and 3 to the GP.
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Section C is completed by the named locum and Section D is completed by the GP. Parts 2 and 3, along with a medical certificate and/or evidence of remuneration of the locum, are then submitted to the PCRS to process for payment. A certificate of attendance must be supplied in the case of a study programme.
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MLF/2 - when applying for maternity/paternity/adoptive leave:
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Section A & Section B is completed by the GP and parts 1, 2 and 3 are forwarded with a medical certificate stating the estimated week of confinement (due week) to the LHO for HSE approval, no less than 4 weeks prior to leave. Part 4 should be retained by the GP.
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Section C is completed by the LHO. On approval of this leave the HSE will retain part 1 and return parts 2 and 3 to the GP.
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Section D and Section E is then completed by the GP. Parts 2 and 3 are then submitted to the PCRS to process for payment.
Annual LeaveÂ
Annual leave entitlements are dependent on panel size. The maximum per day locum contribution is €197.24
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If claiming for one week, you may claim payment for 7 days (inclusive of weekend). See claim process here.
The below table outlines the maximum number of days you can claim based on your panel size per year.
GPs in receipt of Rural Practice Allowance/Rural Practice Support Framework attract full maximum annual leave entitlement applicable to a GP i.e. 35 days.
Study Leave
GPs who hold a capitation contract with a panel of 100+ patients are entitled to 10 days study leave . Leave may be taken on a half or single day basis, Monday to Sunday. The leave year runs 1st April to 31st March.
To claim study leave, you must submit a certificate of attendance to the relevant CHO. The practice is responsible for locum cover. See claim process here.
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You need 5 individual external CPD credits to make up a full day of GMS study leave.
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Sometimes the ICGP also grant a half day for certain events, like IMO & ICGP webinars, even though these are only worth 2 external CPD credits.
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Each ICGP Forum Magazine MCQ is worth half a day of GMS study leave.
Sick Leave
GMS GPs with more than 100 patients may claim contributions towards locum expenses while on sick leave. They may claim up to a maximum of 92 calendar days on full rate in a year, followed by a maximum of 91 calendar days on half rate, subject to a maximum of 183 calendar days paid sick leave in a rolling four year period. See claim process here.
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In cases of critical illness or serious physical injury, it may be possible to claim the full rate for up to 6 months and at half the appropriate rate for a further 6 months. The award of extended sick leave for critical illness or serious physical injury is at the discretion of the HSE. (Please don't hesitate to contact us if you need guidance on this matter.)
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Locum contribution rates are dependent on panel size. The locum contribution will be paid in your monthly PCRS payment. Capitation is paid as normal while the GP is on sick leave.
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The maximum contribution towards locum expenses is €197.24. This rate is paid to GPs with panels of 700+ patients. For GPs with a panel of 100-699 patients, the daily contribution is pro-rata to the previous month's capitation.
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For example:
If the GP's capitation payment was €3,400 last month and there were 31 days in that month, the daily contribution rate would be €109.68 (€3,400 ÷ 31 = €109.68). This is on top of normal capitation payment.
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*Monday to Friday inclusive (only 5 days paid in first week, does not include first weekend). If a GP is out from Monday-Friday, only claim for those dates. If you include the weekend, the days will be counted as sick leave but not paid. However, if they will be out longer, ensure all valid weekends are claimed. You may submit payments into OOH Co-op arrangements as proof of locum remuneration.
Maternity/Adoptive Leave
GMS GPs with 100+ patients are entitled to locum contributions for 26 consecutive weeks maternity/adoptive leave, dependent on panel size (actual panel, not weighted):
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For GPs with a panel of 500+ patients, the locum contribution is €394.48 per day (7 days per week = €2761.36 per week)
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For GPs with a panel of 100-499 patients, the daily/weekly locum contribution is pro-rata to the previous month's capitation
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Maternity leave is not available to those GPs with less than 100 patients.
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Pro-rata capitation example:
If the GP's capitation payment was €3,400 last month and there were 31 days in that month, the daily contribution rate would be €109.68 (€3,400 ÷ 31 = €109.68). This is on top of normal capitation payment.
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GPs continue to receive normal capitation, subsidies and any STCs claimed on the list.
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At the end of maternity leave the GP shall on application to the CHO, be allowed up to 16 weeks unpaid leave.
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If the list size moves over 500 then the higher rate will kick in during the leave, and if the list sizes moves under 500 then the lower rate will apply.
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GPs in receipt of Rural Practice Allowance/Rural Practice Support Framework attract full maximum maternity leave entitlement applicable to a GP.
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See claim process here.
Paternity/Adoptive Leave
GMS GPs with more than 100+ patients (actual panel, not weighted) are entitled to take 14 consecutive days paternity leave, at a rate of €394.48 per day. This leave may be taken at the time of birth/adoption or up to 26 weeks after the birth/adoption.
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In cases where there are two or more children born/adopted, the entitlement to paternity leave will be 14 days for each child (28 days total).
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GPs continue to receive normal capitation, subsidies and any STCs claimed on the list.
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A copy of the medical certificate, which is issued to the mother for maternity leave, should be attached to the completed MLF/2 form sent to the LHO.
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See claim process here.