GP Surveyors team grows due to client demand for specialist services
Well, this year’s got off to a flying start for GP Surveyors. Due to the growing demand for all our services, we have expanded the team and are pleased to introduce you to David White, Adam Carratt, Kelly Cooke and Sam Twine.
David is a Chartered Surveyor and RICS Registered Valuer and has joined our team as a Senior Surveyor, bringing with him over 30 years’ experience. David has a wealth of knowledge spanning a range of surveying disciplines and across a variety of sectors. He has also been delivering university lectures on Real Estate Valuations and Property Development for over 10 years. We are pleased to have David on the team and confident he will deliver a first-rate service to our clients.
Adam has joined our surveying team as a Valuations Surveyor, brining with him an abundance of valuation and property management knowledge. Adam will be helping clients, new and old with rent reviews and market valuations. Adam and David are already extremely busy visiting practices across the UK to build their caseloads.
Kelly joins GP Surveyors as Business Development Manager and is part of our Sale and Leaseback team. Kelly is vastly experienced in managing client accounts and project management and has worked for over 14 years in the finance and property sectors. So, you can rest assured the sale of your property will be in safe hands with Kelly.
Last but not least Sam has joined our finance team, filling the role of Account Manager. One of her many responsibilities will be chasing down the ICB’s to ensure the Notional Rent uplifts we have secured our clients are processed promptly.
Due to the success of our fantastic team in 2023, GP Surveyors’ list of happy clients is so long that we have had to take on additional staff to meet the demand! We are incredibly pleased to introduce you to our latest recruits, Ella Presley, and Julie Oliver.
Ella graduated from Sheffield Hallam University’s Real Estate BSc (Honours) course last year and has become a welcome addition to our Surveying team. She has joined us as a Graduate Surveyor and is currently undergoing our rigorous training scheme. Ella is extremely busy inspecting practices across the UK to build her caseload and help our clients with their notional rent reviews and market valuations.
Julie joins the GP Surveyors client services team as a Client Manager. Julie is an extremely experienced client manager, having worked across a variety of sectors over the last 30 years. During the past three years, Julie has been employed in the primary care property sector gaining invaluable experience and knowledge. If your case is allocated to Julie, you can rest assured that you are in very safe hands.
The Children’s Hospital Charity snowflakes are now bringing festive cheer throughout South Yorkshire by illuminating multiple buildings across the region. GP Surveyors are proud to have been able to help such a great cause, by sponsoring one of the 479 snowflakes.
GP Surveyors chose to support the charity this year because of the amazing work that all the staff undertake. Unfortunately, several of the team have had cause to need this fantastic care this year, with one of the team being a regular visitor. Rebecca Reynard’s son Sidney was born with stage five chronic kidney disease and has required multiple visits to the hospital, always receiving first-rate care and support for the whole family.
Rebecca Reynard, Business Development Manager, GP Surveyors, said:
“We just wanted to give something back to the Children’s Hospital and contribute towards helping others and what better way than to bring a bit of Christmas cheer with a twinkly snowflake!”
The big switch-on took place on Monday 4th December with dozens of beautiful snowflakes lighting up the Sheffield Children’s Hospital. It was a fantastic festive occasion and the rain couldn’t dampen people’s spirits, the brass band made sure of that! Ten-year-old Gracie O’Sullivan had the honour of switching on the snowflakes on behalf of family-run business Supreme Auctions, this year’s switch-on sponsor.
The twinkling snowflakes are also illuminating many other buildings across the region, including the Ryegate Children’s Centre, the Becton Centre for Children and Young People, Sheffield City Hall, St John’s Church, Owlerton Stadium, the Homes-by-Holmes building in Chesterfield, The Centre in Brinsworth and Woodhouse Community Hub and Library. Also supporting the cause this year are Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre and the Alhambra Shopping Centre in Barnsley.
This year’s snowflake appeal has been an immense success, seeing a whopping £377k raised, which will be going towards the building of the new National Centre for Child Health Technology. In total, the snowflake appeal has raised more than £2.5m for Sheffield Children’s Hospital since it first began in 2004.
“We are delighted to have this incredible amount pledged for our snowflake appeal this year. It has become a highlight of the festive season for the city and the money raised will help Sheffield Children’s where it is needed most.
“We are so grateful to every individual, family, business, community group, school, street and suburb that has united behind our fundraising this Christmas. Your support will help change the lives of young patients at Sheffield Children’s for generations to come.”
FAQs
GP Surveyors have put together your FAQs regarding our services and the District Valuer Services (DVS) procedures during COVID-19, we hope this helps clarify your practice’s situation. If you have any further questions, please get in touch and the team will be able to assist you.
GP Surveyors services during COVID-19
Are GP Surveyors open?
Rest assured GP Surveyors are still open and the team is available via their usual email addresses and phone numbers.
Our opening times are still 08:30-17:30 and you can contact us on the usual number 0114 281 5850 or send us a message via the website.
Are GP Surveyors carrying out practice inspections?
Yes, GP Surveyors are currently carrying out surgery inspections, assuming appropriate safety measures are in place. To reduce the risk to all parties, we ask that our Surveyors only have one point of contact on-site, and social distancing guidelines can be met at all times. Our Surveyors will wear face masks and gloves throughout their visit to the surgery as a further safeguarding measure for all.
If you have a practice inspection already booked, we will call you to confirm you still wish our Surveyor to attend. If you have already decided you would like to rearrange your inspection please call your Client Manager on their direct dial or our main office number 0114 281 5850, alternatively send us a message via the website.
Can I still appeal my practices Notional Rent?
Contractually your practice has three years to appeal District Valuer Services proposed figure, providing you do not accept the figures. The three years starts from the date your Notional Rental figure letter was issued to you.
Due to the current unprecedented times, we are recommending that once practices receive their CMR6 letter, they send the NHS a holding letter to help safeguard the practice’s ability to appeal.
Please contact us and we will email you the appropriate holding letter for you to forward to the NHS.
Will my practice’s Notional Rent still be reviewed by the District Valuer Services (DVS)?
In short – YES – but expect delays.
DVS in consultation with NHS England has agreed that inspections of Primary Care Premises by DVS have been suspended until further notice (unless essential). However, DVS can and will still produce premises valuations based upon their historic records and where a practice confirms within their CMR forms that there have been no changes to the practice since the previous review.
The DVS / NHS England and NHS improvement revised site inspection policy is available to download here.
You should still expect to receive the DVS’s opinion of value (CMR6 Form) based on your practices previous inspections and where you have submitted your CMR forms requesting a review.
If you have any further questions regards your Notional Rent review, call us on 0114 281 5850 and one of the team will be happy to help.
My practice hasn’t received its CMR1 forms, what should we do?
GP Surveyors have been made aware that NHS England may only be issuing CMR1 forms upon request from practices and that District Valuer Services are only being instructed to produce rental figures once a practice’s CMR1 form has been issued and returned.
In light of this new information, GP Surveyors are recommending that your surgery requests its CMR1 forms to ensure District Valuer Services are instructed and your latest rental review is carried out. We recommend you make your request from your NHS/CCG one to two months before your review date or immediately if your practice is overdue for a rental review.
GP Surveyors team of specialist experts has prepared a quick guide to completing your CMR1 form which we hope will help your practice avoid any common and potentially costly errors.
If you have any further questions regarding your surgeries rental review, CMR1 form or would like help completing your form, just get in touch and one of our team will be happy to help.
I have an ongoing case with GP Surveyors what is the situation?
Rest assured the GP Surveyors team is working hard on your behalf to ensure cases continue to progress and the team will ensure you still receive your latest case updates. You can of course still contact your Client Manager on their direct dial or the main office number: 0114 281 5850.
If you have any other questions regarding GP Surveyors services or the DVS procedures, during COVID-19 please get in touch and the team will be happy to help – we’re here when you need us.
GP Surveyors would like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly thank you and your practice for the service you deliver to help us all through the COVID-19 outbreak and these challenging times. Stay safe and keep well.
The challenges of acquiring and supplying PPE are headline news and the NHSs shortage very well documented. Speaking to GP practices on a daily basis GP Surveyors understand the struggles GP surgeries are going through to acquire adequate supplies of PPE and have decided to try and help by supporting a fantastic local initiative that is providing protective visors to the NHS.
Many businesses, organisations, and individuals across the UK have mobilised to try and help meet the NHS’s need, whether that is through PPE production, deliveries, or fundraising. A growing cottage industry that has sprung up is the 3-D printing of protective visors, enterprising individuals across the UK are creating thousands of face visors from their own homes to try and help keep key workers safe.
In South Yorkshire, there is one such initiative that GP Surveyors, other local businesses, and many individuals have chosen to support. The initiative in question is 3D printed Face Shields, a Facebook fundraising page that was set up by Alex Southall (pictured) to produce face visors for key workers.
Chris Johnson, GP Surveyors Director:
“The GP Surveyors team has heard first-hand from GP practices about the challenges they are faced with, and the lack of PPE and we wanted to help in any way we could. We found out about Alex’s fantastic initiative through a contact at the Rotherham Round Table and wanted to contribute to help local practices get hold of the protective visors they desperately need.”
One such GP practice that has been helped is East Bank Medical Centre in Sheffield who recently received their protective face visors (pictured). Sharon Turner, Practice Manager said:
“We are very grateful to Alex for his generosity in producing these, much needed protective visors. The visors will help keep my colleagues and our patients safe during these troubling times. Also, a big thanks to GP Surveyors for making this possible.”
Alex first set up his Facebook page with the aim of raising enough money to produce a couple of hundred visors. Alex just wanted to try and make a small contribution and from there funding and orders flooded in, so much so that Alex had to purchase two additional printers to keep up with demand.
Alex says on his Facebook fundraising page: “I’m not making any profit on these, just printing and offering them out for free. This is in response to the global pandemic sweeping across our nation. I am doing my bit to hopefully help with this.”
Alex then went on to partner with the Rotherham Round Table, who purchased three of their own printers, and having been trained up by Alex, are helping in the PPE production drive and fundraising efforts.
Steven Reynard, Rotherham Round Table, said: “It’s a great initiative, the Round Table just had to get involved and help in the efforts to support the local NHS.”
Local businesses have also contributed to helping with Alex’s efforts, including John Brailsford Printers, who donated 400 laminate sheets to help with the creation of the visors.
John Brailsford said: “It is our pleasure to assist Alex with his very worthy efforts in helping the NHS. We were fortunate to have Alex with us on work placement and can see this time has paid off. Our business was not just built on printing services, but our support to our employees and the local community, we’re proud to be a part of Rotherham.”
To date, Alex and his colleague Rikki Bedford have raised enough money to produce nearly 2,000 visors for the NHS, GPs, and keyworkers of South Yorkshire. Starting with just one printer and a will to help, thousands of keyworkers have received visors that keep them safe in these troubled times. Many organisations across South Yorkshire, including Rotherham Hospital and the Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust, have benefited from this wonderful initiative.
Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust wrote to Alex to express her thanks:
“Thank you for the kind supply of visors for our staff… It is an unprecedented time in the NHS and your kindness has allowed staff to be provided with safe and adequate PPE in order to protect them and our patients.”
If you’d like to help GP practices and the NHS gain the vital PPE they need or you’re a keyworker in South Yorkshire that requires a protective visor please visit Alex’s Facebook page: 3D printed Face Shields
The New to Partnership Payment Scheme (N2PP) is now open for GPs and healthcare professionals taking up partnership roles for the first time. Paul Conlan (Director, GP Surveyors) examines the property matters that may arise as the result of partnership change.
The New to Partnership Payment Scheme
The New to Partnership Payment Scheme or ‘golden hello scheme’ launched on 1 July, had been scheduled to open earlier in 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme offers a payment of £20,000 to health professionals taking up a full-time partnership role in general practice for the first time after 31 March 2020. To support the establishment of new partners a contribution towards on-costs of up to £4,000 is also available, as well as a training fund of up to £3,000, to develop non-clinical partnership skills.
High numbers of practices are expected to utilise the scheme, with no cap on the number of applications that can be accepted from eligible healthcare professionals. NHS England has confirmed the scheme is expected to remain open for two financial years – 2020/21 and 2021/22.
GP Property Advice
Depending upon a practice’s circumstances the incoming new partner and or the existing partners may need independent property advice.
When a new partner joins a practice there may be an opportunity for the individual to buy into the practice property. In such a scenario a partner or partners may wish to sell a percentage of their share or a partner maybe looking to retire and be bought out. Under such circumstances an independent market valuation carried out by a specialist primary care Surveyor is highly advisable for all parties. A specialist market valuation will consist of a Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Registered Valuer carrying out a full survey of the premises and a ‘Red Book’ RICS valuation of the property. Instructing an experienced specialist will provide all parties with the full confidence an accurate and reliable valuation has been undertaken and the buy-in can be concluded with all parties knowing the exchange price is fair and reasonable.
If the ‘golden hello’ scheme triggers a change in partnership at the practice and the incoming partner does not wish to buy into the property, this will create an uncommon party and in most cases the requirement for a lease. An uncommon party is a GP partner that has retired or left the practice while retaining an ownership share in the property and/or a GP partner that has joined a practice but has no intention of purchasing an ownership share in the property. In this scenario creating a lease to regulate the occupation of the property is prudent.
When putting a lease in place it is essential for all concerned, that suitably experienced representatives are instructed. Initially a Surveyor will draft heads of terms for the lease, as the lease terms adopted will impact upon the rental value and a Solicitor is unqualified to advise on rental value. Once agreed the heads of terms are passed to a Solicitor to draft the lease, which will be left unsigned until NHS approval is obtained.
Where the Surveyor is jointly instructed by the parties, the heads of terms should protect the investment value of the property for the equity owners, whilst simultaneously adopting terms that satisfy the NHS approval process for the non-equity partners. As part of the approval process, the NHS will check that the agreed terms are value for money to the taxpayer, as the lease creates recurring costs that the GP Contractor can seek to recover under the Premises Cost Directions. District Valuer Services (DVS) will provide value for money advice to the NHS on a GP Contractor’s application for financial assistance towards lease costs.
Securing NHS lease approval is often considered the paramount factor for the GP Practice and non-property owners as obtaining NHS lease approval guarantees the practices NHS reimbursements cover their outgoings under the lease, for as long as they provide contracted medical services. A lease also acts as a reference document to rights and obligations, helping avoid costly property disputes between the parties to the lease.
Depending upon a practice’s circumstances a new partner may be asked to sign an existing lease, possibly to avoid a last man standing scenario. Under such circumstances it would be prudent for the individual to seek the independent advice from either or possibly both, a specialist Surveyor and Solicitor. A primary care Surveyor or Solicitor will be able to undertake checks and review the lease, to clarify whether the terms and liabilities are reasonable and acceptable to sign.
If you would like expert property advice concerning any issues arising from your surgery utilising the New to Partnership Scheme, such as lease creation, lease reviews or Market Valuations, please contact GP Surveyors and one of our specialist team will be able to advise you.
For more information and to apply for the New to Partnership Payment Scheme visit NHS England’s website.
After months of negotiations, the update to the 2020/21 GP contract has now been agreed upon. Headline updates include a 4% increase to the global sum, £20,000 golden handshakes to attract GPs into partnership and additional funding for PCNs to hire additional clinical staff. GP Surveyors highlight the key changes to the Premises Cost Directions, under the contract and how these could affect your premises.
Premises Improvements
With only half of practices deeming their premises to be fit for purpose (2018 BMA GP Premises Survey), the changes to the Directions bring a welcome boost to practices seeking grants for premises improvements.
- A key update to the grants policy, now means commissioners can award improvement grants funding up to 100% of the project value, following the removal of the long-standing restrictions.
- In addition, grant values have been increased and abatement and guaranteed use periods have been reduced.
Whether a practice is considering developing or refurbishing their premises, the most cost-effective way to fund the works can be complex. There are two options available to owner-occupied surgeries looking to fund premises improvement works, NHS funded and self-funded (including borrowing capital). Often, works are funded by a combination of these two options. Explore the options practices have, to fund GP premises improvement works and discover the pitfalls to avoid.
Acquiring land or premises
With the need for many practices to expand and surgeries to be developed, financial constraints have been eased to a small degree.
- Commissioners will now reimburse VAT on Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on acquiring land or premises.
Additional noteworthy changes include:
- Commissioners will reimburse VAT on rent payments
- Fewer restrictions around grants to assign or surrender a lease
- More formalised arrangements for third-party use of premises, with protections for the practices and reimbursement of legal expenses
- Reimbursement of Business Improvement District (BID) levies; and
- Rights to reclaim overpayments made after the Directions are published.
Housing additional PCN staff
The matter of creating sufficient premises space for the 26,000 additional primary care staff, set to be recruited by 2023/24, was only briefly addressed in the GP contract agreement. The following advice is contained in the Update to the GP contract agreement 2020/21 – 2023/24 document:
- PCNs will be encouraged to engage now with their community provider partners to agree on any necessary short-term actions.
- Together they should also start developing a fully joint vision of fit-for-purpose future estate.
- All parties will work together to make the best use of any new capital funding available to primary care to support general practice and the PCN model.
Further reading
GP Surveyors view on the future of GP premises in Primary Care Networks.
BMA GP committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey has called for a substantial rise in capital investment to improve 1,000 GP practice premises.
With up to 26,000 additional staff set to join the primary care workforce over the next four years, Dr Vautrey has highlighted the urgent need for investment in GP premises across the country, in order to accommodate the growing workforce. Early estimates show that an average Primary Care Networks (PCN) will take on 21 new staff each by 2023/24. With half of GPs and Practice Managers stating in the 2018 BMA GP Premises Survey that their premises were already not suitable for their needs, the increase in staff is set to compound premises issues.
Speaking at a conference for PCN Clinical Directors on 8 February, Dr Vautrey questioned why an investment package, similar to the £2.8bn secured for hospital premises, could not be planned for general practice in the forthcoming government budget.
Dr Vaultry said, ‘One of the problems we still have to address is where to put these [additional staff]. We know the issues of premises and funding for premises is something that has to be addressed’.
‘We need the government, through their annual cycle of investment, to invest in capital costs so, not only can they build 20 new hospitals, but maybe they can reform 1,000 general practices across the country so we have the space to site this growing workforce and deliver good quality care.’
A message from GP Surveyors
First and foremost, GP Surveyors hope everyone at practices nationwide, along with family and friends are keeping safe and well at this difficult time.
GP Surveyors understand that GP practices primary focus is to treat their patients and that managing the Covid-19 outbreak is putting extraordinary pressure on their time and resources at present.
We appreciate that a growing number of patients need to be able to get hold of their surgery to make appointments, seek advice and have telephone consultations. Therefore, GP Surveyors have made the decision to not contact surgeries by phone during these challenging times, unless clients expressly ask us to.
We hope that this policy can help, even just a little, to free up surgeries phone lines, save valuable time for practices’ receptionists, managers and of course GPs.
Instead of tying up phone lines, our Client Managers will be keeping in touch with our clients by email. This enables practices to respond to us, once the situation becomes more manageable, and at a time that is convenient for surgeries. Those practices that have an ongoing case with us can expect an email from their Client Managers in the coming days. Rest assured GP Surveyors are still open and working hard on all our client’s behalves, to ensure cases continue to progress.
Even though our team will be putting down their handsets for the first time in 19 years and all working from home, we’ll still be available to help surgeries with any premises matters they need advice on, so feel free to give us a call or drop us an email.
GP Surveyors would like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly thank all surgeries for the service they deliver to help us all through the Covid-19 outbreak and these challenging times. Stay safe and keep well everyone.
The first in our series of charity events kicked off yesterday with a fun-filled coffee morning in aid of The Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA), a charity that means a great deal to our Business Manager, Rebecca Adams.
The coffee morning was filled with games, a raffle and lots and lots of cake! The team really went to town showcasing their baking skills, we had homemade carrot cake, cookies, brownies, flapjack, and even fudge! Those less skilled in the baking department had a last minute rush to the supermarket, naming no names!
The MNDA’s bake it quiz was great fun and taught us lots of fun baking facts, the Egyptians baked the first know cakes and the first mention of a ‘cupcake’ was recorded in the 18th Century – who knew!
Our raffle went down a storm thanks to our star prize – two Sheffield United tickets – kindly donated by the club, to support our MNDA coffee morning.
Our bake sale, quiz, and raffle made for a great event and we’re pleased to say the totaliser for the coffee morning hit £157.91.
A big thank you to all the GP Surveyors team and our neighbors Europa Worldwide Group, for your contributions to our MNDA Charity Coffee morning and a special thanks goes out to our very own Kaya Brayshaw for organising the whole event.[/vc_column_text]
Useful links
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive and ultimately fatal disease that results in degeneration of the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord, to find out more about MND and how you or your organisation can get involved, visit www.mndassociation.org.
The MDMA have also put together a useful guide for GPs and primary care teams.
GP Surveyors, specialist chartered surveyors to the primary healthcare sector are encouraging all GP practices who lease space to a pharmacy to obtain professional, independent advice to ensure they aren’t settling for rent which is too low.
In 2016, GP Surveyors negotiated average pharmacy rent increases of 25% for practices across the UK. This amount equates to an average boost of £4,600 per annum in rental income.
GP Surveyors offer a free of charge assessment to ensure that you are receiving the best possible rent for the pharmacy space you’re leasing out. If we identify that you are losing out, we can then act on your behalf to negotiate an increase and manage the process for you from start to finish.
Our negotiations will be based on our vast database of comparable evidence gained over 16 years, drawn from GP practices with pharmacy tenants demonstrating a similar profile to yours.
“We recently used GP Surveyors to undertake a rent review for the pharmacy on site. The outcome was favorable to us. I would recommend GP Surveyors due to their conscientiousness and personal approach. From start to finish they informed me of progress.”
Source: Rachel George, Manager, Abington Clinic, Northampton
Top tips – Secure an increase in your pharmacy rent!
- Make sure you know when your pharmacy rent reviews are due. There should be details in your lease agreement defining how regularly you can review the pharmacy rent. The most common frequency is every 3 years.
- Obtain professional advice on the lease terms. If you have missed some of the pharmacy rent reviews it can be possible to review rent retrospectively and gain a back dated increase.
- Action a pharmacy rent review based on the terms specified in the lease.
- Pharmacy operators then to have their own specialist surveyors. Therefore, it is extremely important that you are represented to ensure you obtain the best deal.
Contact us to review your rental income:
Rebecca Adams would be delighted to speak with you to discuss your situation and advise on next steps to secure an increase in rental income for your practice.
GP Surveyors also carry out rent reviews for other complimentary services who rent space from you.
Call 0114 281 5850 or email [email protected]
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